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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bound — obliged
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. can — to be able to
  5. spell — magic
  6. bank — for money
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bank — of a river
  9. cap — of ice
  10. can — a tin
  11. spell — letters
  12. rash — a series
  13. spell — a short time
  14. can — a tin
  15. cap — a hat
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. bank — for money
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. cap — a lid
  20. lie — to recline
  21. sharp — clever
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. rash — hasty
  24. lie — an untruth

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