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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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bass — low music
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. current — of water
  7. key — in music
  8. bass — the fish
  9. current — happening now
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. wound — an injury
  13. key — for a lock
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. bear — the animal
  18. key — the most important part
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. current — electric
  23. kick — in football
  24. pass — a permit

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