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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. fine — all right
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. object — to protest
  5. wound — an injury
  6. bound — tied together
  7. mug — a cup
  8. wound — an injury
  9. object — an aim
  10. object — a thing
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. mug — a face
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rock — a stone
  17. fine — high quality
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. mug — to rob
  20. pitch — completely
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. rock — music
  23. bound — obliged
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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