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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. swing — music
  3. suit — clothes
  4. swing — to play on
  5. bound — certain
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. tube — a container
  9. swing — in golf
  10. suit — to fit
  11. season — of the year
  12. suit — in cards
  13. drill — the tool
  14. bound — tied together
  15. drill — army training
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. drill — a practice
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bound — obliged
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. tube — the underground
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. lie — to recline

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