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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: kick · last · nail · bore · deal · track · key · board

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. track — to keep track
  3. bore — to drill
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. track — a path
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. track — a song
  9. deal — to handle
  10. key — the most important part
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. last — finally
  15. board — a committee
  16. last — to go on
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. key — for a lock
  19. board — to get on
  20. bore — to tire
  21. last — final
  22. kick — in football
  23. key — in music
  24. kick — a thrill

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