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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. race — humankind
  3. key — in music
  4. race — a contest
  5. can — a tin
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. fine — high quality
  8. tube — a container
  9. fine — all right
  10. current — happening now
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. key — for a lock
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. track — a song
  16. track — to keep track
  17. current — of water
  18. track — a path
  19. can — to be able to
  20. can — a tin
  21. race — the arms race
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. key — the most important part
  24. current — electric

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