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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. can — to be able to
  4. can — a tin
  5. staff — employees
  6. toast — bread
  7. pound — a weight
  8. face — part of the head
  9. face — to confront
  10. staff — employees
  11. bound — certain
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. fine — all right
  14. bound — tied together
  15. fine — high quality
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. foot — a measure
  18. staff — a stick
  19. can — a tin
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. face — to point toward
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. pound — for dogs

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