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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. foot — a measure
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. key — in music
  8. suit — to fit
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. fine — high quality
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. suit — in cards
  16. key — the most important part
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. fine — all right
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. key — for a lock
  24. straw — a straw man

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