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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. rock — a stone
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. track — a song
  9. track — to keep track
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. track — a path
  12. mug — a face
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. bound — certain
  17. stem — to come from
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bound — tied together
  20. mug — a cup
  21. rock — music
  22. bound — obliged
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. coach — a trainer

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