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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. can — a tin
  4. court — for sport
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. key — the most important part
  7. bound — obliged
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bound — tied together
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. current — electric
  12. key — for a lock
  13. court — of law
  14. current — happening now
  15. cell — in biology
  16. cell — a phone
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. bound — certain
  19. current — of water
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. key — in music
  24. court — of a king

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