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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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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: mark · spell · ball · craft · key · bulb · nail · safe

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. ball — a great time
  3. mark — a trace
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. key — the most important part
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. spell — magic
  9. bulb — for light
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. ball — a dance
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. craft — a skill
  17. spell — a short time
  18. craft — boats
  19. bulb — for light
  20. key — in music
  21. key — for a lock
  22. spell — letters
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. mark — a grade

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