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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. deal — to handle
  3. firm — a company
  4. bound — certain
  5. content — the amount
  6. land — a country
  7. suit — clothes
  8. firm — steady
  9. bound — obliged
  10. land — to come down
  11. content — happy
  12. bound — tied together
  13. ball — a dance
  14. root — of a plant
  15. root — the cause
  16. land — ground
  17. firm — decided
  18. suit — in cards
  19. suit — to fit
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. ball — a great time
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. root — of a word

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