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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. key — for a lock
  4. bound — obliged
  5. key — in music
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. board — a committee
  10. rest — what's left
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. board — to get on
  13. pop — to visit
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. bound — tied together
  18. key — the most important part
  19. rest — a break
  20. pop — music
  21. rest — what's left
  22. pop — soda
  23. tube — the underground
  24. tube — a container

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