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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. rash — hasty
  3. key — the most important part
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. key — in music
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rash — a series
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. pit — in a race
  13. pit — a hole
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. key — for a lock
  16. rock — music
  17. rest — a break
  18. rest — what's left
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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