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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 116 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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. scale — in music
  3. ground — the earth
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. mug — a cup
  6. spell — letters
  7. snap — to click
  8. mug — to rob
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. bound — obliged
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. bound — tied together
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. mug — a face
  16. spell — a short time
  17. ground — a position
  18. rush — hurry
  19. scale — size or range
  20. spell — magic
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. ground — crushed

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