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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. firm — a company
  3. bound — certain
  4. spell — magic
  5. wax — to grow
  6. saw — the tool
  7. suit — clothes
  8. firm — decided
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. firm — steady
  11. bound — obliged
  12. current — electric
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — of water
  16. spell — a short time
  17. suit — to fit
  18. spell — letters
  19. bear — the animal
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. saw — the tool
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bear — the animal

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