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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. spell — a short time
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. current — of water
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. can — a tin
  10. key — for a lock
  11. can — to be able to
  12. current — electric
  13. foot — a measure
  14. key — in music
  15. mine — for digging
  16. current — happening now
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. band — a ring
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. band — a music group
  21. key — the most important part
  22. spell — magic
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. spell — letters

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