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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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. race — humankind
  3. staff — a stick
  4. wake — a trail
  5. game — a match
  6. mine — for digging
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. race — the arms race
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. suit — to fit
  13. suit — in cards
  14. ball — a great time
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. staff — employees
  17. suit — clothes
  18. race — a contest
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. game — wild animals
  21. ball — a dance
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. safe — out of danger

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