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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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. pop — to visit
  3. lean — thin
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. wake — a trail
  7. present — there
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. lean — to bend
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. pop — soda
  13. present — a gift
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. fine — high quality
  16. fine — all right
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. pop — music
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. present — the time now
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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