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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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. roll — on a roll
  4. bank — of a river
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. cue — a hint
  8. cue — a signal
  9. key — in music
  10. key — for a lock
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. drill — a practice
  13. bank — for money
  14. drill — the tool
  15. roll — a list
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. cap — a hat
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. cap — a lid
  20. bank — for money
  21. cap — of ice
  22. key — the most important part
  23. cue — for pool
  24. roll — a cake

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