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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 124 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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. spring — a coil
  4. bound — obliged
  5. current — of water
  6. key — in music
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. spring — of water
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. can — a tin
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. spring — the season
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. current — electric
  18. can — a tin
  19. bound — certain
  20. key — for a lock
  21. current — happening now
  22. key — the most important part
  23. snap — to click
  24. can — to be able to

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