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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.

Make a worksheet

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: craft · degree · key · safe · lie · mug · racket · net

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. net — for catching
  4. degree — temperature
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. key — for a lock
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. net — after costs
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. mug — to rob
  11. degree — an amount
  12. net — in sport
  13. key — the most important part
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. mug — a cup
  16. craft — boats
  17. degree — from a university
  18. lie — to recline
  19. mug — a face
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. craft — a skill
  23. key — in music
  24. safe — out of danger

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