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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. root — of a plant
  5. root — the cause
  6. mark — a grade
  7. field — for sport
  8. mark — a trace
  9. root — of a word
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. degree — temperature
  14. degree — an amount
  15. bound — certain
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. field — a subject
  18. field — farmland
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. degree — from a university
  22. bound — tied together
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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