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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. mate — a friend
  3. net — in sport
  4. bound — certain
  5. mate — a partner
  6. suit — in cards
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. firm — decided
  9. tear — from crying
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. suit — clothes
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. tear — to rip
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bound — tied together
  17. rush — hurry
  18. mate — to breed
  19. bound — obliged
  20. tear — from crying
  21. net — for catching
  22. firm — steady
  23. net — after costs
  24. firm — a company

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