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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. saw — the tool
  3. drill — army training
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. mate — to breed
  6. rock — a stone
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. drill — a practice
  10. pop — to visit
  11. drill — the tool
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. mate — a friend
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pop — soda
  16. rock — music
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bound — certain
  19. foot — a measure
  20. mate — a partner
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. pop — music
  24. perch — the fish

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