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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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
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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. staff — employees
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bound — obliged
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ball — a great time
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. dip — to sink
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. staff — a stick
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. staff — employees
  18. coach — pulled by horses

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