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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  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. coach — a trainer
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bound — tied together
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. cue — a hint
  9. bound — certain
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. press — to push
  13. press — newspapers
  14. bound — obliged
  15. perch — the fish
  16. press — a publisher
  17. cue — for pool
  18. cue — a signal
  19. spring — of water
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. spring — a coil
  23. spring — the season
  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