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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. firm — a company
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. bound — tied together
  5. spell — a short time
  6. spell — letters
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. season — in sport
  10. bank — for money
  11. season — of the year
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. spell — magic
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bank — of a river
  16. firm — steady
  17. content — happy
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. firm — decided
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. bank — for money
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. content — the amount
  24. nail — on a finger

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