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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. rash — hasty
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. rash — a series
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. bound — tied together
  8. rock — a stone
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. rush — hurry
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. pitch — completely
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. bound — obliged
  23. rock — music
  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