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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. spell — magic
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. bound — certain
  5. mug — a cup
  6. spell — a short time
  7. bound — obliged
  8. spell — letters
  9. bank — for money
  10. mug — a face
  11. bank — for money
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. key — for a lock
  15. key — the most important part
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. tube — the underground
  20. sharp — clever
  21. bound — tied together
  22. tube — a container
  23. bank — of a river
  24. mug — to rob

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