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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. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. roll — a cake
  5. lean — to bend
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. mug — to rob
  8. band — a music group
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. mug — a face
  12. mug — a cup
  13. band — a ring
  14. sharp — clever
  15. lie — to recline
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. bound — obliged
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bound — certain
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. bound — tied together
  24. lean — thin

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