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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bound — obliged
  3. spell — a short time
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bound — tied together
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. spell — magic
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. mark — a trace
  10. suit — in cards
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. suit — to fit
  15. bound — certain
  16. squash — to crush
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. spell — letters
  20. suit — clothes
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. squash — the sport
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. temple — side of the head

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