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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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. pit — in a race
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. pit — a hole
  9. net — for catching
  10. current — happening now
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. bound — tied together
  14. net — in sport
  15. current — electric
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. net — after costs
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. lie — to recline
  22. bound — certain
  23. current — of water
  24. stem — to come from

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