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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. key — the most important part
  5. cue — for pool
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. key — for a lock
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. key — in music
  11. cue — a signal
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. kid — child
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. kid — to tease
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. chip — for betting
  23. cue — a hint
  24. chip — to eat

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