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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. bound — tied together
  3. face — to point toward
  4. bound — certain
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. craft — boats
  7. face — to confront
  8. land — to come down
  9. pop — music
  10. land — ground
  11. pop — to visit
  12. suit — clothes
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — a tin
  15. pop — soda
  16. bound — obliged
  17. suit — in cards
  18. land — a country
  19. suit — to fit
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. face — part of the head
  23. craft — a skill
  24. safe — a strongbox

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