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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. foot — a measure
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. track — to keep track
  5. key — in music
  6. bound — certain
  7. rock — music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bound — obliged
  10. can — a tin
  11. key — the most important part
  12. rock — a stone
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. suit — to fit
  16. suit — clothes
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. pass — a permit
  19. bound — tied together
  20. suit — in cards
  21. can — a tin
  22. track — a path
  23. track — a song
  24. foot — part of the body

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