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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: rush · face · board · key · game · ruler · stand · fine

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. game — wild animals
  3. key — in music
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. stand — to bear
  9. fine — all right
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. fine — high quality
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. face — to confront
  15. face — part of the head
  16. face — to point toward
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. key — the most important part
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. game — a match
  22. board — to get on
  23. board — a committee
  24. rush — hurry

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