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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. mug — to rob
  3. spell — magic
  4. club — a group
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. fine — all right
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. club — for golf
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. net — for catching
  12. mug — a face
  13. spell — a short time
  14. date — the fruit
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. bound — obliged
  17. net — in sport
  18. net — after costs
  19. mug — a cup
  20. club — for dancing
  21. bound — certain
  22. fine — high quality
  23. spell — letters
  24. toast — bread

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