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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: lie · bowl · jam · fine · hide · bound · mug · clip

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. lie — to recline
  4. bound — obliged
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. mug — a cup
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. bound — certain
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. fine — high quality
  13. bound — tied together
  14. clip — for paper
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. clip — a video
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. mug — to rob
  23. fine — all right
  24. clip — to cut

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