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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. race — a contest
  3. firm — a company
  4. race — the arms race
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. firm — decided
  9. bound — obliged
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. key — the most important part
  13. bass — the fish
  14. pit — a hole
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bass — low music
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. firm — steady
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. key — in music
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pit — in a race
  23. race — humankind
  24. bound — certain

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