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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. bound — obliged
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. rock — music
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. rock — a stone
  10. dip — to sink
  11. mine — for digging
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. bound — tied together
  14. bound — certain
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. ground — crushed
  17. ground — a position
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. bowl — to roll

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