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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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. race — a contest
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. roll — a list
  6. rest — what's left
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. roll — a cake
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. race — humankind
  11. branch — a division
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. game — a match
  14. game — wild animals
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rest — a break
  17. race — the arms race
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. deal — to handle

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