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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. drill — army training
  3. suit — in cards
  4. bound — obliged
  5. roll — a list
  6. wake — a trail
  7. kick — in football
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. drill — a practice
  10. kick — a thrill
  11. roll — a cake
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. hand — in cards
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. deal — to handle
  16. drill — the tool
  17. hand — help
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. bound — certain
  21. suit — clothes
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. suit — to fit
  24. deal — a big deal

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