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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. can — to be able to
  4. wound — an injury
  5. key — in music
  6. key — for a lock
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. key — the most important part
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. cue — for pool
  12. can — a tin
  13. wound — an injury
  14. cue — a hint
  15. pass — a permit
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. wake — a trail
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. can — a tin
  21. cue — a signal
  22. bound — tied together
  23. leaves — to go away
  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