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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. kick — a thrill
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. kick — in football
  6. saw — the tool
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. key — the most important part
  10. key — in music
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. fall — the season
  14. pitch — completely
  15. saw — the tool
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. fall — to drop
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. key — for a lock
  22. fall — to drop
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. coach — pulled by horses

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com