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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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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: leaves · fine · lie · drill · key · can · rock · game

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. key — the most important part
  3. drill — the tool
  4. fine — all right
  5. drill — a practice
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. can — to be able to
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. fine — high quality
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. can — a tin
  12. drill — army training
  13. can — a tin
  14. rock — a stone
  15. key — in music
  16. rock — music
  17. game — a match
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. key — for a lock
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. lie — to recline
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. game — wild animals

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