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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. rash — hasty
  4. suit — clothes
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. can — a tin
  7. shower — to wash
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. band — a ring
  10. suit — to fit
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. can — a tin
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. can — to be able to
  15. rash — a series
  16. band — a music group
  17. key — the most important part
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. key — in music
  20. shower — rain
  21. suit — in cards
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. plane — a tool

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