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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 116 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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: game · tube · present · safe · key · sharp

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. tube — a container
  3. sharp — clever
  4. present — the time now
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. present — there
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. key — in music
  14. tube — the underground
  15. present — a gift
  16. game — a match
  17. key — the most important part
  18. game — wild animals

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