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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. rock — a stone
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. rock — music
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bound — certain
  16. lie — to recline
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. bound — tied together

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