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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: can · pop · key · fine · row · rash · pitch · bound

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. bound — obliged
  3. key — for a lock
  4. bound — tied together
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. rash — a series
  7. fine — high quality
  8. can — a tin
  9. row — a line
  10. bound — certain
  11. pop — music
  12. fine — all right
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. can — a tin
  15. pitch — completely
  16. rash — hasty
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. can — to be able to
  19. pop — to visit
  20. key — in music
  21. row — to paddle
  22. pop — soda
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. key — the most important part

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