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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 put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. bound — certain
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. rest — what's left
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. band — a ring
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. rest — what's left
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. rest — a break
  15. deal — to handle
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. bound — tied together
  19. band — a music group
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. sharp — clever
  24. bound — obliged

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