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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bound — tied together
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. bound — obliged
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. fine — high quality
  7. file — a document
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wax — to grow
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pop — music
  13. file — a tool
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. fine — all right
  17. file — a line of people
  18. snap — to click
  19. pop — soda
  20. pop — to visit
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. safe — a strongbox

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