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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. ground — a position
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bound — certain
  7. pitch — completely
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. firm — decided
  10. date — the fruit
  11. bound — obliged
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. firm — steady
  14. charge — in control
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. ground — crushed
  17. charge — a price
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. bear — the animal
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. bound — tied together
  23. charge — electricity
  24. firm — a company

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