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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bound — certain
  5. firm — decided
  6. cap — a lid
  7. firm — a company
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. firm — steady
  11. drill — a practice
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. pass — a permit
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. drill — the tool
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. cap — a hat
  18. bound — tied together
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. cap — of ice
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. drill — army training

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