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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. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. bound — tied together
  5. ball — a great time
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. mate — a friend
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. perch — the fish
  11. mate — to breed
  12. bound — obliged
  13. can — a tin
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. can — a tin
  16. ball — a dance
  17. stand — to bear
  18. can — to be able to
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bound — certain
  24. stand — for spectators

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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