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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
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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: bay · bound · key · suit · tube · season · toast · stem

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. season — of the year
  3. bound — obliged
  4. tube — the underground
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. tube — a container
  9. key — the most important part
  10. bound — certain
  11. stem — to come from
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. key — for a lock
  14. bound — tied together
  15. suit — to fit
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. suit — clothes
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. suit — in cards
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. season — in sport
  24. key — in music

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