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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. stand — to bear
  3. mark — a trace
  4. snap — to click
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. charge — in control
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. mark — a grade
  13. net — after costs
  14. charge — electricity
  15. net — in sport
  16. charge — a price
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. net — for catching

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