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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. spell — magic
  3. bound — tied together
  4. net — after costs
  5. bound — obliged
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. spell — a short time
  10. charge — electricity
  11. charge — in control
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bore — to tire
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. net — in sport
  17. net — for catching
  18. spell — letters
  19. bore — to drill
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. bound — certain
  22. charge — a price
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bay — a horse colour

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