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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: track · toast · bound · object · charge · lash · bear · pop

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. bound — obliged
  3. bound — certain
  4. charge — a price
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. track — to keep track
  8. object — to protest
  9. pop — soda
  10. bear — the animal
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. pop — to visit
  13. track — a path
  14. object — a thing
  15. pop — music
  16. toast — bread
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. track — a song
  19. bear — the animal
  20. charge — in control
  21. object — an aim
  22. charge — electricity
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bound — tied together

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