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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.

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: leaves · face · dip · arm · mouse · lash · key · safe

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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 — of a tree
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. face — to confront
  5. key — in music
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. key — for a lock
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. dip — to sink
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. face — part of the head
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. face — to point toward

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