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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bound — certain
  3. roll — a list
  4. face — to confront
  5. mark — a grade
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. face — part of the head
  8. bound — tied together
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. charge — a price
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. charge — electricity
  13. face — to point toward
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. bass — low music
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bass — the fish
  21. rule — a law
  22. roll — a cake
  23. rule — government
  24. charge — in control

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