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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. key — for a lock
  3. cue — for pool
  4. bound — tied together
  5. bound — obliged
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. key — in music
  9. pass — a permit
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. lie — to recline
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. roll — a list
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. cue — a hint
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. key — the most important part
  19. roll — a cake
  20. cue — a signal
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. sharp — clever
  23. bound — certain
  24. bore — to drill

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