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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. wound — an injury
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. wound — an injury
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bass — the fish
  7. can — a tin
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. deal — to handle
  11. bound — certain
  12. bound — tied together
  13. chair — to sit on
  14. can — a tin
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. charge — in control
  18. rock — music
  19. chair — a leader
  20. charge — electricity
  21. charge — a price
  22. bass — low music
  23. rock — a stone
  24. chair — a professorship

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