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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 116 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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. mug — to rob
  3. can — a tin
  4. mug — a face
  5. bound — tied together
  6. squash — the sport
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bulb — for light
  9. staff — a stick
  10. bound — obliged
  11. spell — a short time
  12. spell — letters
  13. mug — a cup
  14. staff — employees
  15. staff — employees
  16. squash — to crush
  17. bound — certain
  18. key — in music
  19. bulb — for light
  20. key — for a lock
  21. spell — magic
  22. key — the most important part
  23. can — a tin
  24. bulb — of a plant

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