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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  8. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. wind — moving air
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. degree — temperature
  8. degree — from a university
  9. can — a tin
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bound — certain
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. firm — steady
  14. can — a tin
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. bound — obliged
  17. can — to be able to
  18. firm — decided
  19. degree — an amount
  20. toast — bread
  21. wind — moving air
  22. bound — tied together
  23. foot — a measure
  24. foot — part of the body

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