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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 116 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 is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. bound — obliged
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bound — certain
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. bulb — for light
  10. shower — rain
  11. lean — to bend
  12. march — music
  13. march — the month
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. bound — tied together
  18. deal — to handle
  19. bulb — for light
  20. shower — to wash
  21. mark — a grade
  22. mark — a trace
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. march — the month

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