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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mine · suit · fine · coach · foot · bay · straw · stem

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. suit — to fit
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. stem — to come from
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. suit — in cards
  14. fine — high quality
  15. suit — clothes
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. fine — all right
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. mine — for digging
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. foot — a measure
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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