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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 is an ace ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. rash — a series
  3. present — the time now
  4. present — there
  5. bound — obliged
  6. stock — goods
  7. bound — certain
  8. bound — tied together
  9. rash — hasty
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. present — a gift
  13. stock — shares
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. foot — a measure
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. lie — to recline
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. deal — to handle

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