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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. kick — a thrill
  3. bound — obliged
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. chip — for betting
  6. key — the most important part
  7. spell — magic
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. toast — bread
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. chip — to eat
  12. key — for a lock
  13. bound — certain
  14. spell — letters
  15. squash — to crush
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. squash — the sport
  19. key — in music
  20. spell — a short time
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. bound — tied together
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. squash — the vegetable

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