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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. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bound — obliged
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. track — to keep track
  6. rash — a series
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. bound — certain
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. rash — hasty
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. chair — a leader
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. chair — to sit on
  18. track — a song
  19. lean — to bend
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. lean — thin
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. track — a path

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