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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bear — the animal
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. bound — obliged
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bound — certain
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. bear — the animal
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. rash — hasty
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — to recline
  19. rash — a series
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. ruler — for measuring

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