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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.

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: ball · spell · key · root · safe · pitch · board · craft

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. craft — a skill
  4. ball — a dance
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. spell — letters
  7. key — in music
  8. board — to get on
  9. key — the most important part
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. root — the cause
  12. key — for a lock
  13. spell — a short time
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. root — of a plant
  16. ball — a great time
  17. board — a committee
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. craft — boats
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pitch — completely
  23. root — of a word
  24. spell — magic

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