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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: safe · swing · jam · stick · bowl · key · stock · squash

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. swing — music
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. squash — to crush
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. key — for a lock
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. swing — to play on
  12. key — the most important part
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. stock — goods
  18. swing — in golf
  19. stock — shares
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. key — in music
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. squash — the sport

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