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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 · bound · leaves · mug · scale · face · bear · pass

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. mug — a face
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. key — in music
  6. bear — the animal
  7. face — to point toward
  8. bound — obliged
  9. face — to confront
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bound — tied together
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. key — for a lock
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. bound — certain
  17. face — part of the head
  18. pass — a permit
  19. mug — a cup
  20. scale — size or range
  21. key — the most important part
  22. mug — to rob
  23. scale — in music
  24. pass — to spend time

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