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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. stock — shares
  7. rash — hasty
  8. bear — the animal
  9. track — a path
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. track — a song
  16. stock — goods
  17. track — to keep track
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. lie — to recline
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. mark — a grade
  22. rash — a series
  23. lie — an untruth
  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