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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. sharp — clever
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. bound — obliged
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bear — the animal
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bear — the animal
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. toast — bread
  16. mine — for digging
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. fine — all right
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. bound — certain
  23. bound — tied together
  24. fine — high quality

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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