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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 116 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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. drill — the tool
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. saw — the tool
  6. content — the amount
  7. bound — tied together
  8. charge — a price
  9. face — to point toward
  10. drill — a practice
  11. bound — certain
  12. content — happy
  13. content — videos and posts
  14. drill — army training
  15. charge — in control
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. face — part of the head
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. saw — the tool
  21. pitch — completely
  22. charge — electricity
  23. bound — obliged
  24. face — to confront

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