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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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468
Word bank
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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. deal — to handle
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. rock — music
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. key — the most important part
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. can — to be able to
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. degree — an amount
  16. rash — a series
  17. degree — temperature
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. can — a tin
  20. rock — a stone
  21. can — a tin
  22. key — in music
  23. rash — hasty
  24. degree — from a university

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