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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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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: key · foot · chest · object · rush · suit · court · safe

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  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. court — of law
  2. suit — clothes
  3. object — an aim
  4. rush — hurry
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. suit — to fit
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. object — to protest
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. chest — a box
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. object — a thing
  14. chest — of your body
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. key — in music
  17. chest — of your body
  18. court — of a king
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. suit — in cards
  21. key — the most important part
  22. court — for sport
  23. foot — a measure
  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