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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bound — certain
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pop — soda
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. stem — to come from
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. key — for a lock
  15. firm — a company
  16. bound — tied together
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. rush — hurry
  20. key — the most important part
  21. firm — steady
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. pop — music
  24. firm — decided

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