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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bank — for money
  4. mug — to rob
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. bound — obliged
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. net — for catching
  10. mate — a partner
  11. mate — to breed
  12. bank — for money
  13. mug — a cup
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bound — certain
  16. mug — a face
  17. mate — a friend
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. bank — of a river
  21. net — after costs
  22. bear — the animal
  23. wax — to grow
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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