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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 116 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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. scale — in music
  4. object — an aim
  5. object — to protest
  6. track — a song
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. band — a music group
  9. track — a path
  10. track — to keep track
  11. race — humankind
  12. cue — a hint
  13. scale — size or range
  14. object — a thing
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. band — a ring
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. cue — a signal
  20. race — a contest
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. cue — for pool

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