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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: dip · pitch · coach · leaves · charge · chest · bound · arm

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. chest — of your body
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. chest — of your body
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. charge — electricity
  7. charge — in control
  8. bound — certain
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. bound — tied together
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. pitch — completely
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. charge — a price
  17. dip — to sink
  18. chest — a box
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. dip — a sauce

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