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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 reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. suit — in cards
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. suit — to fit
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. toast — bread
  9. can — to be able to
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. shower — rain
  12. bound — certain
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. can — a tin
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. suit — clothes
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. date — the fruit
  22. bound — obliged
  23. can — a tin
  24. shower — to wash

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