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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: mine · toast · season · leaves · ruler · mug · present · bound

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. bound — certain
  3. mug — to rob
  4. present — there
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. present — a gift
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. season — in sport
  10. mine — for digging
  11. season — of the year
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. present — the time now
  15. bound — tied together
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. mug — a face
  20. mug — a cup
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. bound — obliged

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