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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: stick · bay · board · key · cue · club · arm · season

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. club — a group
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. club — for dancing
  6. cue — for pool
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. season — of the year
  10. key — for a lock
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. board — a committee
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. club — for golf
  17. cue — a signal
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. cue — a hint
  20. season — in sport
  21. key — in music
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. key — the most important part
  24. board — to get on

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