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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: stock · race · key · last · bank · safe · roll · mouse

  1. False peace will not ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. roll — a list
  3. stock — goods
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. bank — for money
  6. roll — a cake
  7. key — in music
  8. race — the arms race
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. last — finally
  13. key — the most important part
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. race — humankind
  17. bank — of a river
  18. last — final
  19. race — a contest
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. key — for a lock
  23. bank — for money
  24. stock — shares

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