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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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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: board · key · file · firm · safe · charge · season · cue

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. file — a tool
  3. charge — electricity
  4. board — to get on
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. board — a committee
  7. key — for a lock
  8. firm — decided
  9. season — of the year
  10. cue — for pool
  11. file — a line of people
  12. firm — a company
  13. file — a document
  14. key — in music
  15. firm — steady
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. season — in sport
  19. cue — a signal
  20. charge — in control
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. cue — a hint
  23. charge — a price
  24. key — the most important part

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