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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. key — the most important part
  4. foot — a measure
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. can — a tin
  7. court — of a king
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. face — to point toward
  10. key — in music
  11. deal — to handle
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. key — for a lock
  14. court — for sport
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. court — of law
  18. face — to confront
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. face — part of the head
  22. can — to be able to
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. can — a tin

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