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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. pass — a permit
  5. rush — hurry
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. bore — to tire
  12. board — a committee
  13. lie — to recline
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. bound — certain
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bore — to drill
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bound — obliged
  22. board — to get on
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. racket — a loud noise

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