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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. sharp — clever
  5. mug — to rob
  6. foot — a measure
  7. mug — a face
  8. saw — the tool
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. bound — certain
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. bound — obliged
  13. branch — a division
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. mug — a cup
  18. saw — the tool

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