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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 120 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. spell — a short time
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. rash — a series
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. wake — a trail
  7. key — the most important part
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. rash — hasty
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. key — in music
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. fine — high quality
  15. spell — magic
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. scale — in music
  19. key — for a lock
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. spell — letters
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. chair — a leader
  24. fine — all right

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