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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. cue — a signal
  4. firm — decided
  5. bound — obliged
  6. bound — tied together
  7. can — a tin
  8. mark — a grade
  9. cue — for pool
  10. cue — a hint
  11. rash — hasty
  12. spell — letters
  13. spell — a short time
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. rash — a series
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — to be able to
  19. bound — certain
  20. date — the fruit
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. firm — steady
  23. spell — magic
  24. date — on the calendar

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