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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. row — to paddle
  5. bound — certain
  6. mark — a trace
  7. mark — a grade
  8. charge — electricity
  9. net — after costs
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. net — for catching
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. bear — the animal
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. charge — a price
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bound — obliged
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. net — in sport
  23. row — a line
  24. charge — in control

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