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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 116 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. band — a ring
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. bound — tied together
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. suit — to fit
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. suit — in cards
  13. bound — certain
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. spring — a coil
  17. suit — clothes
  18. key — for a lock
  19. spring — of water
  20. band — a music group
  21. spring — the season
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. bound — obliged
  24. key — the most important part

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