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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. key — the most important part
  3. can — a tin
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. bark — to shout
  12. key — in music
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. deal — to handle
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. can — to be able to
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. mine — for digging
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. bowl — a dish

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