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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. rock — music
  3. key — in music
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. perch — the fish
  7. mug — a cup
  8. mug — to rob
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. key — the most important part
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. stem — to come from
  14. mug — a face
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. key — for a lock
  17. rock — a stone
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. stem — a stem cell

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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