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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mark — a trace
  4. staff — employees
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. suit — in cards
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. staff — employees
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rock — music
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. staff — a stick
  14. mark — a grade
  15. ground — crushed
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. ground — the earth
  18. suit — clothes
  19. ground — a position
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. suit — to fit
  22. court — of law
  23. court — of a king
  24. court — for sport

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