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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 116 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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. march — the month
  3. march — music
  4. face — to confront
  5. bound — obliged
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. bound — tied together
  9. present — the time now
  10. fine — all right
  11. bound — certain
  12. present — a gift
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. season — of the year
  15. fine — high quality
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. face — part of the head
  20. season — in sport
  21. march — the month
  22. face — to point toward
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. present — there

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