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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. bound — tied together
  3. season — in sport
  4. squash — to crush
  5. lean — to bend
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. charge — in control
  8. key — the most important part
  9. season — of the year
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. squash — the sport
  13. charge — electricity
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. bound — certain
  16. bound — obliged
  17. charge — a price
  18. roll — a list
  19. lean — thin
  20. key — for a lock
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. roll — a cake
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. leaves — lets stay

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