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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. bear — the animal
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. fine — high quality
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. track — to keep track
  12. track — a song
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. bound — tied together
  15. track — a path
  16. bound — certain
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. sharp — clever
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. fine — all right

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