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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. mug — a face
  3. bound — obliged
  4. tear — from crying
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. bulb — for light
  7. tear — to rip
  8. bound — certain
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bulb — for light
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. mug — to rob
  13. tear — from crying
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. prune — to trim
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. mug — a cup
  18. chair — a leader
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. cue — for pool
  21. prune — to trim
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. cue — a signal
  24. cue — a hint

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