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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: key · cap · safe · scale · rush · pit · fan · clip

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  22. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  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. fan — a supporter
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. cap — of ice
  4. scale — in music
  5. scale — size or range
  6. pit — a hole
  7. key — the most important part
  8. cap — a lid
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. cap — a hat
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. pit — in a race
  17. key — in music
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. clip — to cut
  20. key — for a lock
  21. clip — for paper
  22. clip — a video
  23. rush — hurry
  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