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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. bound — tied together
  3. key — the most important part
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. fine — high quality
  7. key — for a lock
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. key — in music
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. fine — all right
  20. bark — to shout
  21. bound — certain
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. bound — obliged

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