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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. key — the most important part
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. pop — soda
  5. roll — a cake
  6. pop — music
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. pop — to visit
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. current — electric
  12. key — in music
  13. roll — a list
  14. net — in sport
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. net — for catching
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. current — of water
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. key — for a lock
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. net — after costs

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