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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. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. can — a tin
  3. key — in music
  4. key — for a lock
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. can — a tin
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. row — to paddle
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. key — the most important part
  14. current — happening now
  15. court — for sport
  16. court — of a king
  17. current — electric
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. court — of law
  21. current — of water
  22. can — to be able to
  23. row — a line
  24. plane — a tool

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