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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. bound — tied together
  3. drill — a practice
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mug — to rob
  6. net — for catching
  7. drill — army training
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. bound — obliged
  10. can — a tin
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mug — a face
  14. drill — the tool
  15. pitch — completely
  16. mug — a cup
  17. net — in sport
  18. net — after costs
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. mark — a grade
  21. can — a tin
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  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