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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.

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

Word bank: key · foot · wound · safe · stick · court · bay · lie

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  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. court — of law
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. court — for sport
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. key — in music
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. wound — an injury
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. lie — to recline
  12. wound — an injury
  13. key — for a lock
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. foot — a measure
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. court — of a king
  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