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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — obliged
  3. march — the month
  4. lean — thin
  5. drill — army training
  6. deal — to handle
  7. march — the month
  8. plane — a tool
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. drill — the tool
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. perch — the fish
  14. march — music
  15. drill — a practice
  16. bound — certain
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. lean — to bend
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. leaves — of a tree

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