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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. rash — a series
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bulb — for light
  9. kid — child
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. ground — crushed
  12. bound — tied together
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. ground — a position
  15. bound — certain
  16. rock — a stone
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. bound — obliged
  19. rash — hasty
  20. bulb — for light
  21. ground — the earth
  22. kid — to tease
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. rock — music

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