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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: key · foot · can · wake · bore · pass · rule · hide

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. key — for a lock
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. key — in music
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. foot — a measure
  10. rule — government
  11. bore — to drill
  12. wake — a trail
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. rule — a law
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. key — the most important part
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bore — to tire
  20. can — a tin
  21. pass — a permit
  22. can — a tin
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. pass — to succeed

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