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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. cap — a lid
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. rock — music
  7. season — of the year
  8. bound — tied together
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rock — a stone
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. key — for a lock
  16. key — in music
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. season — in sport
  19. key — the most important part
  20. cap — a hat
  21. rush — hurry
  22. cap — of ice
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. bound — certain

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