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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bound — tied together
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. key — the most important part
  6. sharp — clever
  7. key — for a lock
  8. saw — the tool
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. saw — the tool
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. fine — all right
  13. bound — obliged
  14. fine — high quality
  15. current — electric
  16. lean — thin
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. current — of water
  19. current — happening now
  20. bound — certain
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. lean — to bend
  24. key — in music

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