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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. key — for a lock
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. key — in music
  5. bore — to drill
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. suit — clothes
  8. can — a tin
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. pass — a permit
  12. key — the most important part
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. sharp — clever
  15. suit — in cards
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. game — wild animals
  18. game — a match
  19. bore — to tire
  20. shower — to wash
  21. suit — to fit
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. shower — rain
  24. can — to be able to

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