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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. mine — for digging
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. firm — decided
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. bound — obliged
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. firm — a company
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. firm — steady
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bound — tied together
  15. foot — a measure
  16. stem — to come from
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. bound — certain
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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