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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. key — for a lock
  5. pass — a permit
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. land — a country
  9. branch — a division
  10. field — for sport
  11. bear — the animal
  12. land — ground
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. field — a subject
  20. key — the most important part
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. land — to come down
  23. field — farmland
  24. bear — the animal

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