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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 116 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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. club — for golf
  5. pop — to visit
  6. club — for dancing
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. pop — soda
  12. bound — tied together
  13. bound — certain
  14. tube — a container
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pop — music
  17. present — the time now
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. present — a gift
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. tube — the underground
  22. present — there
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. club — a group

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