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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. current — electric
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. current — of water
  10. key — for a lock
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. key — in music
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. key — the most important part
  16. craft — a skill
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. craft — boats
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. staff — a stick
  22. staff — employees
  23. current — happening now
  24. staff — employees

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