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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. bound — tied together
  3. rock — a stone
  4. key — in music
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. cap — a lid
  7. cap — a hat
  8. spring — the season
  9. court — of a king
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. court — of law
  13. key — for a lock
  14. bound — obliged
  15. court — for sport
  16. key — the most important part
  17. mark — a grade
  18. mark — a trace
  19. cap — of ice
  20. spring — of water
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. rock — music
  23. bound — certain
  24. spring — a coil

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