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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 120 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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. cue — a hint
  4. bound — tied together
  5. key — in music
  6. cue — a signal
  7. game — wild animals
  8. key — for a lock
  9. race — the arms race
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. key — the most important part
  12. race — humankind
  13. bulb — for light
  14. race — a contest
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. bound — obliged
  19. cue — for pool
  20. bulb — for light
  21. game — a match
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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