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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.

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

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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. charge — in control
  3. key — the most important part
  4. bank — of a river
  5. perch — the fish
  6. charge — electricity
  7. cap — a lid
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. pass — a permit
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. key — for a lock
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. bank — for money
  16. cap — a hat
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. cap — of ice
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. key — in music
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. charge — a price
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. bank — for money

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