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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rock — music
  8. bound — certain
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. prune — to trim
  11. bound — obliged
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. sharp — clever
  14. stand — to bear
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. bound — tied together
  23. prune — to trim
  24. rock — a stone

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