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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bark — to shout
  5. bound — certain
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. rush — hurry
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. chip — for betting
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. bound — tied together
  24. foot — a measure

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