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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 are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. clip — a video
  3. pass — a permit
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. bound — certain
  6. wake — a trail
  7. mug — to rob
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. bear — the animal
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. mug — a face
  15. mug — a cup
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. bear — the animal
  20. clip — for paper
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. clip — to cut
  24. pass — to succeed

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