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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bay · game · bass · mate · key · safe · rush · charge

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. mate — a friend
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bass — the fish
  7. charge — in control
  8. key — in music
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. game — wild animals
  11. game — a match
  12. rush — hurry
  13. charge — a price
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. charge — electricity
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. mate — to breed
  18. key — the most important part
  19. mate — a partner
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bass — low music
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. bay — a horse colour

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