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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.

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: pass · squash · roll · mug · safe · bank · key · clip

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. clip — a video
  3. key — for a lock
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. roll — a list
  6. clip — to cut
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. roll — a cake
  9. bank — for money
  10. mug — a face
  11. bank — for money
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. pass — a permit
  15. key — the most important part
  16. key — in music
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. squash — to crush
  20. squash — the sport
  21. mug — a cup
  22. clip — for paper
  23. mug — to rob
  24. bank — of a river

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