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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. fine — high quality
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. saw — the tool
  7. race — a contest
  8. fine — all right
  9. suit — clothes
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. key — the most important part
  13. race — humankind
  14. key — in music
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. key — for a lock
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. suit — in cards
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. suit — to fit
  24. race — the arms race

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