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

Word bank: stem · jam · rock · face · bound · key · season · date

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. face — to point toward
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. face — part of the head
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. bound — obliged
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. key — the most important part
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. bound — tied together
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. bound — certain
  14. key — in music
  15. season — in sport
  16. stem — to come from
  17. face — to confront
  18. date — the fruit
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. rock — music
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. key — for a lock
  23. rock — a stone
  24. season — of the year

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