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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. season — of the year
  4. land — to come down
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. land — a country
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. face — to point toward
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mate — a partner
  11. face — part of the head
  12. land — ground
  13. season — in sport
  14. bound — obliged
  15. mate — to breed
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mate — a friend
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bound — tied together
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. face — to confront
  24. cabinet — ministers

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