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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. key — the most important part
  3. bound — obliged
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. key — in music
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. bore — to drill
  10. suit — clothes
  11. key — for a lock
  12. suit — in cards
  13. game — a match
  14. game — wild animals
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — tied together
  18. suit — to fit
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. branch — a division
  22. bore — to tire
  23. wound — an injury
  24. wound — an injury

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