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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 120 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: land · key · safe · kick · hand · leaves · face · wake

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. hand — help
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. wake — a trail
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. key — in music
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. face — part of the head
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. land — a country
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. land — ground
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. key — for a lock
  16. hand — in cards
  17. face — to point toward
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. face — to confront
  22. kick — in football
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. land — to come down

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