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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 reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. ball — a dance
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. charge — a price
  7. staff — a stick
  8. staff — employees
  9. pop — soda
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. pop — to visit
  12. charge — in control
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. prune — to trim
  15. bound — certain
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. bound — obliged
  20. ball — a great time
  21. charge — electricity
  22. pop — music
  23. prune — to trim
  24. staff — employees

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