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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. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bass — the fish
  4. key — for a lock
  5. date — the fruit
  6. firm — decided
  7. firm — steady
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. firm — a company
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. key — in music
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. perch — the fish
  22. key — the most important part
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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