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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. row — to paddle
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. mark — a grade
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. drill — army training
  7. bound — certain
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bound — obliged
  10. can — a tin
  11. rest — what's left
  12. march — the month
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. rest — a break
  15. can — a tin
  16. march — the month
  17. drill — the tool
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. march — music
  21. row — a line
  22. rest — what's left
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bound — tied together

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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