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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: ruler · coach · safe · key · date · land · rule · board

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  7. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. land — to come down
  3. land — a country
  4. key — in music
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rule — a law
  7. rule — to rule out
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. date — the fruit
  12. rule — government
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. land — ground
  16. board — a committee
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. key — for a lock
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. key — the most important part
  24. safe — out of danger

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