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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. vault — a safe
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. tube — the underground
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. mine — for digging
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. bound — certain
  21. wake — a trail
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. tube — a container

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