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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bat — for baseball
  4. saw — the tool
  5. lean — to bend
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. lean — thin
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. bank — for money
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bat — the animal
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. bound — certain
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. bank — for money
  24. jam — a tight spot

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