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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: bound · sharp · track · fine · file · key · suit · can

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. file — a tool
  4. can — a tin
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. key — the most important part
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. bound — tied together
  9. bound — obliged
  10. suit — in cards
  11. track — a path
  12. suit — to fit
  13. bound — certain
  14. key — for a lock
  15. suit — clothes
  16. file — a line of people
  17. fine — all right
  18. track — a song
  19. sharp — clever
  20. file — a document
  21. fine — high quality
  22. can — a tin
  23. track — to keep track
  24. key — in music

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