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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 116 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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. bound — tied together
  4. perch — the fish
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. ball — a great time
  7. deal — to handle
  8. squash — to crush
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. bound — obliged
  12. ball — a dance
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. bound — certain
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. squash — the sport
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. pit — in a race
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cabinet — ministers

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