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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're on a ________________ here.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. mark — a trace
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. bound — obliged
  5. roll — a cake
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. club — for golf
  8. bound — certain
  9. suit — in cards
  10. face — to confront
  11. suit — clothes
  12. bound — tied together
  13. mark — a grade
  14. face — to point toward
  15. rash — a series
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. rash — hasty
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. face — part of the head
  20. roll — a list
  21. club — for dancing
  22. suit — to fit
  23. club — a group
  24. leaves — lets stay

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