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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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. present — a gift
  4. bound — certain
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. staff — employees
  7. fine — high quality
  8. bound — obliged
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. staff — employees
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. wound — an injury
  13. mug — a face
  14. present — the time now
  15. mug — a cup
  16. fine — all right
  17. wound — an injury
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. mug — to rob
  20. present — there
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. stand — to bear
  23. bound — tied together
  24. stand — on your feet

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