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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 116 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. wake — a trail
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. current — electric
  9. current — of water
  10. rash — hasty
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. key — the most important part
  13. current — happening now
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. rash — a series
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. key — for a lock
  21. snap — to click
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. rush — hurry
  24. racket — for tennis

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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