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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 120 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. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. ground — a position
  3. bound — certain
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. ground — crushed
  11. lean — thin
  12. object — to protest
  13. chip — to eat
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. object — an aim
  17. ground — the earth
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. bound — obliged
  20. chip — for betting
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. object — a thing

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