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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. season — of the year
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. board — to get on
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. season — in sport
  9. stock — shares
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. stock — goods
  13. wake — a trail
  14. board — a committee
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. foot — a measure
  17. bound — obliged
  18. toast — bread
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. bound — tied together
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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