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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 116 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. That must've been a ________________.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. root — the cause
  4. can — a tin
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. bound — certain
  8. rest — what's left
  9. object — an aim
  10. rest — what's left
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bass — the fish
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. object — to protest
  16. can — a tin
  17. rest — a break
  18. root — of a word
  19. bass — low music
  20. root — of a plant
  21. can — to be able to
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rush — hurry
  24. object — a thing

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