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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. key — for a lock
  6. rash — hasty
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. bound — obliged
  12. roll — a list
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. lie — to recline
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. key — in music
  17. bound — tied together
  18. key — the most important part
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. roll — a cake
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. rash — a series
  24. bound — certain

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