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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. rash — a series
  3. mark — a trace
  4. land — ground
  5. rash — hasty
  6. mark — a grade
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. land — to come down
  9. land — a country
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. key — the most important part
  12. stem — to come from
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. key — in music
  17. fall — to drop
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. fall — the season
  21. key — for a lock
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. fall — to drop

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