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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. key — in music
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. sharp — clever
  8. scale — size or range
  9. content — the amount
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. key — the most important part
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. key — for a lock
  23. scale — in music
  24. content — happy

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