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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. dip — to sink
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. mate — to breed
  5. mate — a friend
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. season — of the year
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. bound — tied together
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — music
  13. plane — a tool
  14. bound — certain
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. season — in sport
  17. bound — obliged
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. mate — a partner
  22. prune — to trim
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. prune — to trim

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