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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 124 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. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. bound — certain
  6. stand — to bear
  7. track — a path
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. bound — obliged
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. track — to keep track
  13. track — a song
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. rush — hurry
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. bass — low music
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. hide — to keep secret

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