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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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. dip — to dunk
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bound — obliged
  6. ground — the earth
  7. dip — to sink
  8. suit — in cards
  9. rock — music
  10. ground — a position
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. suit — to fit
  13. ground — crushed
  14. perch — the fish
  15. foot — a measure
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. scale — size or range
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. scale — in music
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bound — certain
  24. perch — for a bird

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