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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. key — in music
  3. tear — from crying
  4. can — to be able to
  5. rest — what's left
  6. bound — tied together
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. rest — a break
  9. key — for a lock
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. can — a tin
  12. board — a committee
  13. board — to get on
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. key — the most important part
  16. bound — obliged
  17. tear — to rip
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bound — certain
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. tear — from crying
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. can — a tin

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