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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. can — a tin
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. bound — certain
  7. pass — a permit
  8. squash — to crush
  9. pitch — completely
  10. squash — the sport
  11. bound — tied together
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. can — a tin
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. cabinet — a cupboard

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