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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 120 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. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. race — the arms race
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. game — wild animals
  5. file — a document
  6. mug — to rob
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. bulb — for light
  9. race — a contest
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bulb — for light
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. file — a tool
  14. track — a song
  15. track — to keep track
  16. mug — a cup
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. mug — a face
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. file — a line of people
  22. game — a match
  23. track — a path
  24. temple — a place of worship

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