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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. court — of a king
  9. deal — to handle
  10. wind — moving air
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. suit — in cards
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. rock — music
  16. court — of law
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. wind — moving air
  19. court — for sport
  20. suit — to fit
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. rock — a stone
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. suit — clothes

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