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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bear — the animal
  4. key — for a lock
  5. rash — hasty
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. club — for dancing
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. bound — certain
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. press — to push
  13. press — a publisher
  14. key — in music
  15. club — a group
  16. rash — a series
  17. tube — a container
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. tube — the underground
  20. bear — the animal
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. key — the most important part
  23. club — for golf
  24. bound — tied together

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