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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: bound · bear · rush · rash · scale · face · jam · lean

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. bound — obliged
  6. face — to point toward
  7. lean — to bend
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rash — a series
  10. scale — size or range
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. face — part of the head
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. bound — certain
  16. bound — tied together
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. bear — the animal
  19. face — to confront
  20. lean — thin
  21. rash — hasty
  22. scale — in music
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. bear — to put up with

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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