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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bound — certain
  3. pop — music
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bank — for money
  6. bear — the animal
  7. pop — to visit
  8. bound — tied together
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — in music
  12. bank — of a river
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. tube — a container
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. tube — the underground
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. bound — obliged
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. key — the most important part
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. pop — soda
  24. pitch — completely

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