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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 120 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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — obliged
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. track — a song
  6. bound — certain
  7. pit — in a race
  8. staff — a stick
  9. cue — for pool
  10. mine — for digging
  11. cue — a hint
  12. mate — to breed
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. track — to keep track
  15. mate — a partner
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. staff — employees
  19. cue — a signal
  20. staff — employees
  21. mate — a friend
  22. track — a path
  23. pit — a hole
  24. lie — to recline

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