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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: lean · suit · mouse · pit · pop · fan · season · bound

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. lean — to bend
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bound — tied together
  5. pit — a hole
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. bound — certain
  9. season — in sport
  10. season — of the year
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. suit — to fit
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. lean — thin
  15. pop — soda
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. pit — in a race
  18. pop — to visit
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. suit — clothes
  22. pop — music
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. fan — a supporter

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