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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. firm — decided
  3. bore — to drill
  4. game — a match
  5. firm — steady
  6. cap — a hat
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. cap — of ice
  9. deal — to handle
  10. bank — for money
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. bank — for money
  13. bore — to tire
  14. key — the most important part
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. firm — a company
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. game — wild animals
  20. cap — a lid
  21. key — for a lock
  22. key — in music
  23. bank — of a river
  24. deal — a big deal

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