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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. can — a tin
  3. ball — a great time
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. key — for a lock
  6. current — electric
  7. key — the most important part
  8. rush — hurry
  9. current — happening now
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. can — a tin
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. key — in music
  19. wake — a trail
  20. mark — a trace
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. current — of water
  23. ball — a dance
  24. mark — a grade

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