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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. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. squash — to crush
  5. file — a tool
  6. squash — the sport
  7. file — a line of people
  8. band — a ring
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. suit — in cards
  11. key — for a lock
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bound — certain
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bound — obliged
  16. suit — to fit
  17. suit — clothes
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. key — in music
  20. perch — the fish
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. band — a music group
  24. file — a document

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