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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bear — the animal
  4. hand — help
  5. bound — obliged
  6. chip — for betting
  7. chip — to eat
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. key — in music
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bound — tied together
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. bound — certain
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. hand — in cards
  19. key — the most important part
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. key — for a lock

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