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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. object — a thing
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. toast — bread
  6. rock — a stone
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. key — the most important part
  11. key — for a lock
  12. charge — in control
  13. key — in music
  14. scale — in music
  15. object — to protest
  16. rock — music
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. charge — a price
  19. charge — electricity
  20. object — an aim
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. scale — size or range
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. rock — to move gently

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