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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 116 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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. bound — certain
  3. root — the cause
  4. mate — a partner
  5. bound — tied together
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. root — of a plant
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bound — obliged
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. root — of a word
  16. key — the most important part
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — in music
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. mate — a friend

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