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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. That was a fun ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. key — in music
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. roll — a cake
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. tear — from crying
  8. key — for a lock
  9. tear — to rip
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. game — wild animals
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. bulb — for light
  18. tear — from crying
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bulb — for light
  21. roll — a list
  22. key — the most important part
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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