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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. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. present — the time now
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. lean — to bend
  6. bound — certain
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. land — to come down
  9. land — ground
  10. present — there
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. deal — to handle
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. branch — a division
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bound — tied together
  18. lean — thin
  19. land — a country
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. branch — of a tree

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