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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. rock — a stone
  4. bound — tied together
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. squash — to crush
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. squash — the sport
  9. bound — certain
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. charge — in control
  15. season — of the year
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. charge — a price
  18. bound — obliged
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. charge — electricity
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. rock — music
  24. season — to add flavour

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