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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. key — in music
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. key — the most important part
  5. ball — a great time
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. race — a contest
  9. suit — clothes
  10. race — the arms race
  11. degree — from a university
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. ball — a dance
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. key — for a lock
  16. degree — an amount
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. suit — to fit
  20. degree — temperature
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. wax — to grow
  24. suit — in cards

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