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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. season — in sport
  3. spell — magic
  4. bound — certain
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. ground — crushed
  7. bound — obliged
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bear — the animal
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. ground — the earth
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bear — the animal
  17. can — a tin
  18. ground — a position
  19. bound — tied together
  20. spell — letters
  21. can — a tin
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. season — of the year
  24. saw — the tool

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