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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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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: deal · key · fork · ball · rest · staff · stick · safe

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. key — in music
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. key — the most important part
  5. key — for a lock
  6. deal — to handle
  7. staff — employees
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. ball — a dance
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. rest — a break
  14. rest — what's left
  15. staff — employees
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. ball — a great time
  18. staff — a stick
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rest — what's left
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. fork — in a road

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