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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. can — a tin
  4. bear — the animal
  5. can — a tin
  6. mug — a cup
  7. bound — obliged
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. tube — the underground
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. bound — certain
  12. can — to be able to
  13. object — a thing
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. tube — a container
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. toast — bread
  21. object — to protest
  22. bear — the animal
  23. object — an aim
  24. mug — a face

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