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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 120 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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. race — a contest
  3. bound — certain
  4. game — wild animals
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. bound — obliged
  7. suit — in cards
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. suit — clothes
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. game — a match
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bound — tied together
  19. race — the arms race
  20. wound — an injury
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. race — humankind
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. game — a kind of play

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