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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. lean — to bend
  4. bound — obliged
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. lean — thin
  8. bound — tied together
  9. rule — a law
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. bound — certain
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. rule — government
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. shower — to wash
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. shower — rain
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. rule — to rule out

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