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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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Word bank
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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 knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. sharp — clever
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. spell — magic
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. bound — tied together
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. ball — a dance
  14. spell — a short time
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. saw — the tool
  19. spell — letters
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bound — certain
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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