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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. bound — obliged
  3. bound — certain
  4. bound — tied together
  5. rush — hurry
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. suit — to fit
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. chair — a professorship
  12. suit — clothes
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. chair — a leader
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. foot — a measure
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. suit — in cards
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. spell — a short time
  22. spell — letters
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. arm — part of the body

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