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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 116 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. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. content — happy
  2. row — a line
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. content — the amount
  5. mug — a face
  6. lie — to recline
  7. row — to paddle
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. season — of the year
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bound — obliged
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. bound — tied together
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. mug — a cup
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. season — in sport
  24. bound — certain

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