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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. key — the most important part
  3. rash — hasty
  4. bass — low music
  5. key — in music
  6. suit — in cards
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. bass — the fish
  9. rash — a series
  10. key — for a lock
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. chip — to eat
  13. drill — army training
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. chip — for betting
  16. drill — the tool
  17. suit — to fit
  18. prune — to trim
  19. suit — clothes
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. prune — to trim
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. bass — the instrument

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