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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. track — a song
  3. row — a line
  4. key — the most important part
  5. bulb — for light
  6. row — to paddle
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. track — a path
  10. net — in sport
  11. bulb — for light
  12. staff — employees
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. staff — a stick
  16. net — after costs
  17. key — for a lock
  18. stand — to bear
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. net — for catching
  21. staff — employees
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. key — in music
  24. track — to keep track

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