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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. stand — to bear
  3. deal — to handle
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bound — certain
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. pop — music
  9. key — in music
  10. ball — a dance
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. can — to be able to
  13. ball — a great time
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. key — for a lock
  16. pop — soda
  17. pop — to visit
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — a tin
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. bound — tied together

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