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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: stick · staff · bound · sharp · pass · key · foot · ball

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. staff — a stick
  5. ball — a great time
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. sharp — clever
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. bound — tied together
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. staff — employees
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. ball — a dance
  16. bound — certain
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. key — the most important part
  19. staff — employees
  20. foot — a measure
  21. bound — obliged
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. pass — a permit
  24. key — for a lock

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