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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. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. pit — in a race
  3. key — in music
  4. bound — obliged
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. charge — in control
  10. key — for a lock
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bound — certain
  13. roll — a cake
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. fine — high quality
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. roll — a list
  18. charge — a price
  19. charge — electricity
  20. fine — all right
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. key — the most important part
  23. pit — a hole
  24. fan — a supporter

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