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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 120 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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fine — high quality
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. bound — obliged
  9. fine — all right
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. bass — low music
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bound — certain
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. bass — the fish
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. bowl — a dish

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