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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. lie — to recline
  4. bound — tied together
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. root — the cause
  9. root — of a plant
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bound — certain
  12. can — a tin
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. mark — a grade
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. bound — obliged
  17. band — a music group
  18. band — a ring
  19. fine — all right
  20. root — of a word
  21. fine — high quality
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. mark — a trace
  24. can — to be able to

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