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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. race — a contest
  3. toast — bread
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. race — humankind
  7. deal — to handle
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. pop — to visit
  10. season — of the year
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. stand — to bear
  16. staff — employees
  17. season — in sport
  18. pop — soda
  19. staff — employees
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. pop — music
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. staff — a stick

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