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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 120 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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bear — the animal
  3. present — there
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. deal — to handle
  7. key — the most important part
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. mine — for digging
  10. bound — tied together
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. present — a gift
  13. key — in music
  14. key — for a lock
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. present — the time now
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bear — the animal
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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