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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. suit — to fit
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. bound — obliged
  7. suit — clothes
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. squash — the sport
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. press — a publisher
  12. key — in music
  13. key — the most important part
  14. press — to push
  15. hand — help
  16. squash — to crush
  17. suit — in cards
  18. hand — in cards
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bound — tied together
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. bound — certain
  24. press — newspapers

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