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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. bound — tied together
  3. can — a tin
  4. march — the month
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. march — music
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. can — to be able to
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bound — certain
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. can — a tin
  18. pass — a permit
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. pitch — completely
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. march — the month

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