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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: rock · wound · arm · date · safe · key · track · can

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. key — the most important part
  4. wound — an injury
  5. can — to be able to
  6. track — a path
  7. date — the fruit
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — music
  10. track — to keep track
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. can — a tin
  15. key — in music
  16. can — a tin
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. track — a song
  21. key — for a lock
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. date — on the calendar

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