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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. bound — obliged
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. key — in music
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. wound — an injury
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. bound — certain
  15. wound — an injury
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. key — for a lock
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. bound — tied together
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. mark — a trace
  24. key — the most important part

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