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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. tear — from crying
  3. fine — high quality
  4. saw — the tool
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. charge — a price
  7. cue — a signal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. saw — the tool
  11. charge — electricity
  12. cue — for pool
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. bound — certain
  15. bound — tied together
  16. present — a gift
  17. bound — obliged
  18. present — there
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. cue — a hint
  21. charge — in control
  22. tear — to rip
  23. fine — all right
  24. tear — from crying

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