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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. squash — to crush
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. bound — obliged
  6. key — in music
  7. bound — certain
  8. key — for a lock
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. ball — a great time
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. key — the most important part
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. can — a tin
  17. board — a committee
  18. bound — tied together
  19. board — to get on
  20. rash — hasty
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. squash — the sport
  23. ball — a dance
  24. squash — the vegetable

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