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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: bay · fine · present · bound · face · mug · can · charge

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. bound — certain
  3. face — to point toward
  4. charge — a price
  5. bound — obliged
  6. face — part of the head
  7. fine — all right
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. present — a gift
  10. charge — in control
  11. fine — high quality
  12. mug — a face
  13. can — a tin
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bound — tied together
  17. face — to confront
  18. mug — to rob
  19. present — the time now
  20. can — to be able to
  21. present — there
  22. charge — electricity
  23. can — a tin
  24. mug — a cup

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