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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
468
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: rule · stand · straw · dip · bound · fine · bulb · bear

  1. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — government
  2. bear — the animal
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. bear — the animal
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. dip — to sink
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rule — a law
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. fine — high quality
  14. stand — to bear
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. bound — obliged
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. bound — certain
  23. bound — tied together
  24. fine — all right

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