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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 chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. bound — certain
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. bound — tied together
  6. land — ground
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. bound — obliged
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. land — a country
  11. rule — a law
  12. foot — a measure
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. land — to come down
  16. perch — the fish
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rule — government
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. perch — for a bird

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