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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  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. bound — obliged
  2. branch — a division
  3. key — for a lock
  4. key — in music
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. row — to paddle
  10. ball — a dance
  11. bound — certain
  12. craft — boats
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bound — tied together
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — to recline
  17. key — the most important part
  18. ball — a great time
  19. craft — a skill
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. row — a line
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. lie — an untruth
  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