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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rash — hasty
  5. suit — clothes
  6. key — for a lock
  7. suit — to fit
  8. bound — certain
  9. cue — for pool
  10. rest — what's left
  11. chip — to eat
  12. rest — a break
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bound — obliged
  15. key — in music
  16. cue — a signal
  17. suit — in cards
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. cue — a hint
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bear — the animal
  23. key — the most important part
  24. chip — for betting

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