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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. drill — a practice
  5. club — for golf
  6. drill — the tool
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. charge — in control
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. scale — size or range
  11. scale — in music
  12. bound — obliged
  13. charge — electricity
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. club — for dancing
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. dip — to sink
  20. toast — bread
  21. bound — tied together
  22. charge — a price
  23. bound — certain
  24. club — a group

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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