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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 lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. suit — clothes
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bound — certain
  7. bound — tied together
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. object — to protest
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lie — to recline
  14. chest — of your body
  15. object — a thing
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. chest — of your body
  18. suit — in cards
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. bound — obliged
  23. object — an aim
  24. trunk — 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