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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. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. current — of water
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. key — the most important part
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. dip — to sink
  7. key — in music
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. key — for a lock
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. current — electric
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. current — happening now
  24. fan — to cool the air

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