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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 120 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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. mark — a trace
  7. key — in music
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. bat — the animal
  10. scale — size or range
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. mark — a grade
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. scale — in music
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. key — for a lock
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. rush — hurry
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. rush — to hurry

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