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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — certain
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pass — a permit
  5. ball — a great time
  6. charge — in control
  7. rock — music
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. bound — obliged
  10. firm — a company
  11. sharp — clever
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. charge — electricity
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. rock — a stone
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. charge — a price
  20. firm — decided
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. firm — steady
  24. ball — a dance

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