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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. march — the month
  3. roll — a cake
  4. firm — decided
  5. chip — for betting
  6. march — the month
  7. firm — steady
  8. roll — a list
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. rash — a series
  11. key — the most important part
  12. march — music
  13. key — in music
  14. firm — a company
  15. chip — to eat
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. key — for a lock
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. rash — hasty

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