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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. tube — a container
  3. bound — certain
  4. root — the cause
  5. rash — a series
  6. rash — hasty
  7. key — in music
  8. bound — obliged
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. key — for a lock
  11. can — to be able to
  12. key — the most important part
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. can — a tin
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. bore — to tire
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. root — of a word
  20. root — of a plant
  21. tube — the underground
  22. can — a tin
  23. bore — to drill
  24. nail — for a hammer

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