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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 120 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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. bound — obliged
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. pit — a hole
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pop — to visit
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bound — tied together
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. craft — boats
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. bound — certain
  15. bark — to shout
  16. craft — a skill
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. pop — soda
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. pop — music

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