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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. can — a tin
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. saw — the tool
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. can — to be able to
  10. rule — government
  11. spell — letters
  12. bound — obliged
  13. saw — the tool
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. spell — magic
  16. tube — a container
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rule — a law
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. spell — a short time
  22. can — a tin
  23. tube — the underground
  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