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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 120 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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. branch — a division
  4. rock — music
  5. staff — employees
  6. pitch — completely
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. rock — a stone
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. staff — a stick
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. foot — a measure
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. staff — employees
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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