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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. stock — goods
  5. key — in music
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. ball — a great time
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. foot — a measure
  10. last — finally
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. last — final
  16. scale — size or range
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. ball — a dance
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. stock — shares
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. key — for a lock
  23. key — the most important part
  24. last — to go on

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