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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. track — to keep track
  3. bulb — for light
  4. chest — of your body
  5. cue — for pool
  6. bulb — for light
  7. chest — of your body
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. track — a song
  11. cue — a signal
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. track — a path
  16. cue — a hint
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mug — to rob
  19. chest — a box
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — tied together
  23. mug — a face
  24. bay — a horse colour

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