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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. file — a document
  3. key — the most important part
  4. current — of water
  5. file — a line of people
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. key — in music
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. drill — a practice
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. file — a tool
  16. current — electric
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. drill — army training
  20. drill — the tool
  21. key — for a lock
  22. rest — a break
  23. rest — what's left
  24. safe — out of danger

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