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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. key — the most important part
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. key — for a lock
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. pit — a hole
  7. suit — to fit
  8. perch — the fish
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. branch — a division
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. key — in music
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. suit — in cards
  16. bound — obliged
  17. suit — clothes
  18. fine — all right
  19. bound — certain
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. fine — high quality
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. pit — in a race

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