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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. pop — music
  3. charge — electricity
  4. craft — a skill
  5. last — finally
  6. last — final
  7. fine — high quality
  8. charge — in control
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. pop — to visit
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. last — to go on
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. bound — certain
  15. lean — to bend
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bound — obliged
  19. charge — a price
  20. pop — soda
  21. fine — all right
  22. lean — thin
  23. bound — tied together
  24. craft — boats

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