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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 reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bound — certain
  5. can — to be able to
  6. mark — a grade
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. lie — to recline
  10. mate — a partner
  11. charge — a price
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. fall — the season
  15. mark — a trace
  16. fall — to drop
  17. charge — electricity
  18. mate — a friend
  19. mate — to breed
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. fall — to drop
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. charge — in control
  24. bound — obliged

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