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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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468
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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. season — of the year
  4. season — in sport
  5. bound — obliged
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. bound — tied together
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. suit — in cards
  11. suit — clothes
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. bound — certain
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. fine — all right
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. suit — to fit

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