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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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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: arm · bowl · rest · rock · safe · jam · key · stick

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. rock — music
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. key — in music
  5. rest — what's left
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. key — the most important part
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. rock — a stone
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rest — what's left
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. key — for a lock
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. rest — a break

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