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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 116 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: drill · stock · rest · fork · leaves · safe · press · key

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. stock — shares
  3. key — for a lock
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. press — to push
  7. drill — a practice
  8. key — the most important part
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. drill — the tool
  16. rest — a break
  17. fork — in a road
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. stock — goods
  20. rest — what's left
  21. press — a publisher
  22. key — in music
  23. drill — army training
  24. rest — what's left

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