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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. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. shower — rain
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. key — the most important part
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. shower — to wash
  9. roll — a list
  10. bound — certain
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. bound — obliged
  13. squash — the sport
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. key — in music
  16. bulb — for light
  17. squash — to crush
  18. bulb — for light
  19. key — for a lock
  20. roll — a cake
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. bound — tied together
  23. stand — to bear
  24. arm — part of the body

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