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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're almost out of ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. bound — tied together
  3. rush — hurry
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. march — the month
  6. march — the month
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. bound — obliged
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. fork — in a road
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. toast — bread
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. march — music
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bound — certain
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pop — music
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. pop — to visit

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