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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 120 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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. pass — a permit
  3. field — for sport
  4. rest — what's left
  5. charge — electricity
  6. rest — a break
  7. current — happening now
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. charge — a price
  11. field — farmland
  12. bank — for money
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bank — for money
  15. field — a subject
  16. vault — a safe
  17. current — of water
  18. charge — in control
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. stand — to bear
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. bank — of a river
  24. current — electric

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