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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. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. object — a thing
  4. track — a path
  5. kid — child
  6. can — a tin
  7. kid — to tease
  8. key — in music
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. rash — a series
  11. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. object — an aim
  14. key — the most important part
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. key — for a lock
  18. track — a song
  19. object — to protest
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bark — to shout
  22. rash — hasty
  23. can — a tin
  24. track — to keep track

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