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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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. mark — a grade
  3. date — the fruit
  4. mark — a trace
  5. bound — certain
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. bound — tied together
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. content — happy
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. net — in sport
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. toast — bread
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. cell — a phone
  18. content — the amount
  19. net — for catching
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. net — after costs
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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