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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  21. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. bound — tied together
  3. chest — a box
  4. key — the most important part
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. lean — thin
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. season — of the year
  12. key — for a lock
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. season — in sport
  18. foot — a measure
  19. lean — to bend
  20. chest — of your body
  21. chest — of your body
  22. bound — certain
  23. key — in music
  24. season — to add flavour

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