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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bound — obliged
  3. rock — a stone
  4. prune — to trim
  5. prune — to trim
  6. bound — tied together
  7. craft — a skill
  8. pass — a permit
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. lean — to bend
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. lean — thin
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. rock — music
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. staff — a stick
  21. craft — boats
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. bound — certain
  24. staff — employees

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