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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. pass — a permit
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. rash — hasty
  9. rash — a series
  10. net — after costs
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. bound — obliged
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. fine — all right
  17. bound — tied together
  18. net — for catching
  19. net — in sport
  20. fine — high quality
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. pass — to succeed

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