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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. court — of law
  7. rest — what's left
  8. rock — music
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. mark — a grade
  12. can — to be able to
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rest — what's left
  15. rest — a break
  16. mark — a trace
  17. bound — tied together
  18. court — of a king
  19. pitch — completely
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bound — obliged
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. court — for sport

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