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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. can — a tin
  3. ball — a great time
  4. land — to come down
  5. land — ground
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. can — a tin
  8. tube — the underground
  9. tube — a container
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. can — to be able to
  13. bound — tied together
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. land — a country
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. vault — a safe
  18. key — the most important part
  19. ball — a dance
  20. key — in music
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — certain
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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