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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bear — the animal
  3. key — in music
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. scale — in music
  6. bound — tied together
  7. mark — a grade
  8. bound — certain
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. board — a committee
  11. can — to be able to
  12. key — for a lock
  13. can — a tin
  14. board — to get on
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. bear — the animal
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. can — a tin
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. key — the most important part
  23. scale — size or range
  24. bound — obliged

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