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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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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. rock — a stone
  3. sharp — clever
  4. game — a match
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. bound — obliged
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. bound — certain
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. game — wild animals
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. tube — the underground
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. tube — a container
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. rock — music

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