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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  10. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  11. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. staff — employees
  3. key — for a lock
  4. key — in music
  5. can — to be able to
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. key — the most important part
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. chest — a box
  10. chest — of your body
  11. chest — of your body
  12. staff — a stick
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. mate — to breed
  15. bound — tied together
  16. stand — to bear
  17. can — a tin
  18. staff — employees
  19. mate — a partner
  20. mate — a friend
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. can — a tin
  23. bound — obliged
  24. leaves — of a tree

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