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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: rush · pit · rock · safe · key · lie · bank · last

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rock — music
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bank — for money
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. pit — a hole
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. rush — hurry
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. bank — for money
  13. bank — of a river
  14. last — finally
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. lie — to recline
  17. last — to go on
  18. key — in music
  19. rock — a stone
  20. key — the most important part
  21. pit — in a race
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. last — final
  24. key — for a lock

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