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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bound — certain
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. chest — a box
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. chest — of your body
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. rush — hurry
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bound — tied together
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. foot — a measure
  17. bound — obliged
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. band — a ring
  20. chest — of your body
  21. lie — to recline
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. band — a music group
  24. fork — in a road

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