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

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. key — in music
  4. can — a tin
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. key — the most important part
  7. track — to keep track
  8. current — of water
  9. key — for a lock
  10. current — electric
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. current — happening now
  14. band — a ring
  15. can — a tin
  16. kid — to tease
  17. kid — child
  18. bass — the fish
  19. bass — low music
  20. track — a song
  21. band — a music group
  22. can — to be able to
  23. track — a path
  24. safe — a strongbox

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