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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. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. race — a contest
  3. current — electric
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. race — the arms race
  7. current — of water
  8. rash — hasty
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. foot — a measure
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. pop — music
  13. plane — a tool
  14. pop — to visit
  15. rash — a series
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. current — happening now
  20. pop — soda
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. plane — an aircraft

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