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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. wound — an injury
  3. can — a tin
  4. firm — steady
  5. bound — obliged
  6. can — a tin
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. tube — the underground
  9. bound — tied together
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. can — to be able to
  13. tube — a container
  14. bound — certain
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. club — for dancing
  17. wound — an injury
  18. club — a group
  19. date — the fruit
  20. club — for golf
  21. toast — bread
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. firm — decided

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