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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. net — for catching
  3. shower — rain
  4. shower — to wash
  5. game — a match
  6. firm — a company
  7. net — after costs
  8. current — happening now
  9. charge — in control
  10. charge — electricity
  11. net — in sport
  12. firm — decided
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. current — electric
  15. firm — steady
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. current — of water
  20. game — wild animals
  21. charge — a price
  22. scale — size or range
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. safe — out of danger

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