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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. fine — high quality
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. present — the time now
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. bass — low music
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. bass — the fish
  10. fine — all right
  11. hand — help
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. bound — tied together
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. present — there
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. present — a gift
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. hand — in cards
  24. bound — certain

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