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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 120 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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — obliged
  3. capital — money
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. capital — a city
  7. bound — certain
  8. can — a tin
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pit — in a race
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. wax — to grow
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. can — to be able to
  16. pit — a hole
  17. can — a tin
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. capital — a big letter
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. pass — a permit

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