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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. fine — all right
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. toast — bread
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. row — to paddle
  13. key — the most important part
  14. row — a line
  15. suit — to fit
  16. key — in music
  17. key — for a lock
  18. suit — clothes
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. suit — in cards
  24. fine — high quality

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