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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. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bound — obliged
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. rest — a break
  10. bound — certain
  11. bound — tied together
  12. band — a music group
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. saw — the tool
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. saw — the tool
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. pass — a permit
  19. rest — what's left
  20. band — a ring
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. rest — what's left
  24. lie — to recline

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