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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. mug — a cup
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. stand — to bear
  6. squash — to crush
  7. net — for catching
  8. squash — the sport
  9. bound — obliged
  10. net — after costs
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. pass — a permit
  13. net — in sport
  14. bound — tied together
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. mug — a face
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. bound — certain

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