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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. spring — the season
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. fine — all right
  8. key — in music
  9. race — a contest
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. race — the arms race
  12. spring — a coil
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. race — humankind
  16. key — the most important part
  17. spring — of water
  18. deal — to handle
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. fine — high quality
  23. key — for a lock
  24. safe — a strongbox

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