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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.

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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: rule · pass · key · face · tube · roll · nail · last

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. pass — a permit
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. last — finally
  5. key — the most important part
  6. tube — a container
  7. tube — the underground
  8. last — final
  9. rule — government
  10. face — to point toward
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. rule — to rule out
  16. last — to go on
  17. key — in music
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. rule — a law
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. face — part of the head
  22. roll — a cake
  23. face — to confront
  24. key — for a lock

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