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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.

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: key · tube · safe · perch · mark · toast · club · pitcher

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. club — a group
  3. tube — the underground
  4. key — in music
  5. key — the most important part
  6. mark — a trace
  7. perch — the fish
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. club — for dancing
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. tube — a container
  19. toast — bread
  20. key — for a lock
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. mark — a grade
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. club — for golf

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