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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. march — the month
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. march — music
  8. snap — to click
  9. bound — tied together
  10. key — the most important part
  11. bound — certain
  12. squash — to crush
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. march — the month
  16. squash — the sport
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. vault — a safe
  19. key — in music
  20. bound — obliged
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. deal — to handle

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