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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. mine — for digging
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. fine — high quality
  5. fine — all right
  6. rock — music
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. lean — thin
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. pop — music
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. mug — a cup
  17. pop — soda
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. lean — to bend
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. pop — to visit
  22. mug — a face
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. rock — to move gently

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