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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.

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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: saw · staff · lie · pound · fine · bound · rest · pitch

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. saw — the tool
  3. pound — a weight
  4. staff — employees
  5. rest — a break
  6. staff — employees
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. rest — what's left
  9. saw — the tool
  10. lie — to recline
  11. bound — obliged
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bound — certain
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. rest — what's left
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. staff — a stick
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. fine — all right
  24. pitch — completely

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