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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  22. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. key — the most important part
  3. spell — magic
  4. spell — a short time
  5. tear — to rip
  6. land — to come down
  7. key — in music
  8. spell — letters
  9. can — a tin
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. mark — a trace
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. land — a country
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. mark — a grade
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. key — for a lock
  19. can — to be able to
  20. can — a tin
  21. tear — from crying
  22. tear — from crying
  23. land — ground
  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