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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stick · bound · key · leaves · game · march · bowl · suit

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. key — the most important part
  4. key — for a lock
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. game — a match
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. bound — tied together
  11. march — music
  12. game — wild animals
  13. bound — certain
  14. suit — in cards
  15. march — the month
  16. key — in music
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. march — the month
  21. suit — to fit
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. leaves — to go away

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