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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. net — in sport
  6. wound — an injury
  7. can — a tin
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. content — the amount
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. content — happy
  12. net — for catching
  13. wound — an injury
  14. key — the most important part
  15. net — after costs
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. club — for dancing
  18. can — a tin
  19. club — a group
  20. key — in music
  21. club — for golf
  22. can — to be able to
  23. key — for a lock
  24. leaves — of a tree

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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