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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 120 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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. key — the most important part
  4. hand — in cards
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. cap — of ice
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. key — in music
  12. can — a tin
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. track — a song
  17. can — to be able to
  18. track — a path
  19. cap — a hat
  20. track — to keep track
  21. cap — a lid
  22. key — for a lock
  23. can — a tin
  24. hand — help

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