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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: nail · bulb · mine · key · staff · safe · kick · rock

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. rock — a stone
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. mine — for digging
  5. key — for a lock
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. staff — employees
  9. key — the most important part
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. staff — employees
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. rock — music
  19. kick — in football
  20. key — in music
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. bulb — for light
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. bulb — for light

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