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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. rock — music
  3. suit — in cards
  4. key — for a lock
  5. rush — hurry
  6. track — a path
  7. suit — to fit
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. key — the most important part
  10. key — in music
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. ground — crushed
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. ground — a position
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. ground — the earth
  22. track — to keep track
  23. track — a song
  24. rock — a 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