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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. bound — certain
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. land — a country
  5. suit — in cards
  6. bore — to tire
  7. land — ground
  8. bore — to drill
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bank — for money
  12. track — to keep track
  13. bound — tied together
  14. suit — to fit
  15. suit — clothes
  16. rock — music
  17. bank — of a river
  18. track — a path
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bank — for money
  21. land — to come down
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. rock — a stone
  24. bound — obliged

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