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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: safe · bore · pass · game · bass · key · wake · racket

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. key — in music
  4. bore — to tire
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. key — the most important part
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. pass — a permit
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. game — wild animals
  13. wake — a trail
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bass — low music
  16. bore — to drill
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. key — for a lock
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. bass — the fish
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. game — a match
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. racket — a loud noise

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