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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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. bound — obliged
  3. rest — a break
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. drill — the tool
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. rock — music
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. bound — certain
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. bound — tied together
  14. rest — what's left
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. rock — a stone
  17. season — of the year
  18. drill — a practice
  19. drill — army training
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. season — in sport
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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