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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. fall — to drop
  3. fall — to drop
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. suit — clothes
  6. suit — in cards
  7. fall — the season
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. degree — from a university
  10. stand — to bear
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. suit — to fit
  14. firm — a company
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. charge — in control
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. degree — temperature
  20. firm — steady
  21. degree — an amount
  22. charge — a price
  23. toast — bread
  24. firm — decided

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