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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 120 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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. band — a ring
  7. press — newspapers
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. net — after costs
  11. net — in sport
  12. fine — all right
  13. bound — certain
  14. press — a publisher
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. band — a music group
  19. bound — tied together
  20. press — to push
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. net — for catching
  24. fine — a penalty

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