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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. fine — all right
  5. bound — tied together
  6. lean — thin
  7. bound — certain
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lean — to bend
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bound — obliged
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. fine — high quality
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. hide — animal skin

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