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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. suit — in cards
  4. wound — an injury
  5. spell — letters
  6. wound — an injury
  7. bound — tied together
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. bound — certain
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. spell — magic
  13. press — newspapers
  14. fine — all right
  15. press — to push
  16. season — in sport
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. season — of the year
  20. fine — high quality
  21. suit — to fit
  22. bound — obliged
  23. press — a publisher
  24. spell — a short time

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