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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. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. key — in music
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. deal — to handle
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a grade
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. key — the most important part
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. suit — in cards
  13. march — music
  14. key — for a lock
  15. bound — obliged
  16. march — the month
  17. mark — a trace
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. suit — to fit
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bound — certain
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. suit — clothes

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