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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. craft — a skill
  4. sharp — clever
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. court — for sport
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. bound — tied together
  11. firm — a company
  12. craft — boats
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. firm — steady
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. court — of a king
  19. bound — certain
  20. court — of law
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. firm — decided
  23. lie — to recline
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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