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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. stand — to bear
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. field — farmland
  8. rest — a break
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rest — what's left
  12. land — to come down
  13. field — a subject
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. field — for sport
  16. dip — to sink
  17. land — ground
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. bound — certain
  21. rock — music
  22. rest — what's left
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. land — a country

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