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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 reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bound — tied together
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. band — a ring
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. face — to confront
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. face — part of the head
  9. rock — a stone
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. tube — the underground
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. band — a music group
  14. bound — obliged
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. deal — to handle
  20. tube — a container
  21. face — to point toward
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rock — music

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