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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. dip — to sink
  3. mug — a face
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bound — certain
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. wound — an injury
  10. wound — an injury
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. pass — a permit
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. bound — tied together
  17. mug — a cup
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. bound — obliged

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