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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. pop — soda
  5. club — for dancing
  6. pop — music
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. club — for golf
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. mate — a friend
  11. net — for catching
  12. club — a group
  13. mate — to breed
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. net — in sport
  16. scale — size or range
  17. mate — a partner
  18. firm — a company
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. firm — steady
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. scale — in music
  23. net — after costs
  24. pop — to visit

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