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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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. firm — decided
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. mark — a grade
  5. bound — obliged
  6. firm — steady
  7. saw — the tool
  8. firm — a company
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. saw — the tool
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. wind — moving air
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. game — a match
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. wind — to turn a key
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bound — certain
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. mark — a trace
  21. wind — moving air
  22. game — wild animals
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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