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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. ball — a dance
  3. key — in music
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. bound — tied together
  7. ball — a great time
  8. wax — to grow
  9. tube — a container
  10. tube — the underground
  11. lean — thin
  12. march — music
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. march — the month
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. lean — to bend
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. march — the month
  19. chip — for betting
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. key — the most important part
  22. key — for a lock
  23. bound — obliged
  24. chip — to eat

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