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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bound — tied together
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. date — the fruit
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. fine — high quality
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. root — of a word
  13. bound — obliged
  14. root — of a plant
  15. fine — all right
  16. bulb — for light
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. rock — music
  20. root — the cause
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. bulb — of a plant

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