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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'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. When are we going to ________________?
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. land — ground
  2. season — of the year
  3. mate — a partner
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. land — to come down
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. suit — clothes
  8. season — in sport
  9. bound — obliged
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. bound — certain
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. bound — tied together
  15. mate — a friend
  16. suit — to fit
  17. stand — to bear
  18. key — in music
  19. suit — in cards
  20. key — the most important part
  21. land — a country
  22. stem — to come from
  23. key — for a lock
  24. mate — to breed

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