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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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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: fine · pit · object · scale · march · bound · coach · jam

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. object — an aim
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. pit — in a race
  5. object — to protest
  6. pit — a hole
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. object — a thing
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. march — the month
  13. march — music
  14. bound — obliged
  15. scale — in music
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. scale — size or range
  18. bound — certain
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. fine — all right
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. bound — tied together
  24. fine — high quality

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