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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 120 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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. bore — to tire
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bound — certain
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — for light
  7. key — for a lock
  8. current — electric
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. court — for sport
  11. bound — obliged
  12. key — in music
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. court — of law
  15. court — of a king
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. bore — to drill
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. current — happening now
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. current — of water
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. key — the most important part

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