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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 120 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 put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. rest — a break
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bound — tied together
  5. bound — certain
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. rock — a stone
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. charge — in control
  11. rest — what's left
  12. perch — the fish
  13. rest — what's left
  14. charge — electricity
  15. band — a music group
  16. charge — a price
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rock — music
  22. rush — hurry
  23. band — a ring
  24. leaves — to go away

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