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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 walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. file — a line of people
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. object — a thing
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. ground — a position
  7. bear — the animal
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mug — to rob
  10. object — to protest
  11. ground — crushed
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. bear — the animal
  14. file — a tool
  15. mug — a face
  16. file — a document
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. bound — certain
  20. ground — the earth
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. bound — obliged
  23. mug — a cup
  24. object — an aim

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