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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 were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. stem — to come from
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. ball — a dance
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. club — for golf
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bound — tied together
  9. pass — a permit
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. ball — a great time
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. bound — obliged
  15. rock — music
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. club — a group
  18. land — to come down
  19. club — for dancing
  20. land — ground
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bound — certain
  24. land — a country

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