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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  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. rush — hurry
  3. bound — certain
  4. bulb — for light
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. date — the fruit
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bulb — for light
  15. foot — a measure
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. calf — a young animal
  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