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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. race — the arms race
  3. bear — the animal
  4. race — humankind
  5. object — to protest
  6. mark — a trace
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. club — a group
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. game — wild animals
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. club — for golf
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. race — a contest
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. club — for dancing
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. object — an aim
  20. game — a match
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bear — the animal
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. mark — a grade

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