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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bound — certain
  3. kid — child
  4. can — a tin
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. charge — a price
  8. charge — electricity
  9. mark — a grade
  10. bound — tied together
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. charge — in control
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mark — a trace
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. bound — obliged
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. sharp — clever
  21. can — a tin
  22. kid — to tease
  23. can — to be able to
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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