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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. rock — a stone
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bound — tied together
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. key — the most important part
  8. lie — to recline
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. rock — music
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bound — certain
  13. key — in music
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. snap — to click
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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