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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: key · safe · roll · wake · pass · drill · swing · charge

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. pass — a permit
  4. charge — in control
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. roll — a cake
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. key — in music
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. swing — music
  12. charge — electricity
  13. swing — to play on
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. roll — a list
  16. drill — army training
  17. drill — the tool
  18. wake — a trail
  19. drill — a practice
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. swing — in golf
  22. key — for a lock
  23. charge — a price
  24. pass — to succeed

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