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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bound — tied together
  3. drill — a practice
  4. rash — a series
  5. bound — obliged
  6. deal — to handle
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. mark — a grade
  9. drill — the tool
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. rash — hasty
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. branch — a division
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. toast — bread
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. bound — certain
  21. drill — army training
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. deal — a big deal

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