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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: fan · bound · press · cue · land · safe · key · race

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. race — humankind
  3. cue — a signal
  4. key — the most important part
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. cue — a hint
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. land — a country
  9. race — a contest
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. press — newspapers
  12. land — to come down
  13. key — for a lock
  14. press — to push
  15. cue — for pool
  16. bound — obliged
  17. bound — certain
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. key — in music
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. land — ground
  23. race — the arms race
  24. press — a publisher

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