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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. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — from a university
  2. date — the fruit
  3. degree — temperature
  4. key — the most important part
  5. mark — a grade
  6. branch — a division
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. vault — a safe
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. degree — an amount
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. key — in music
  19. key — for a lock
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. safe — a strongbox

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