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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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. court — of law
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. present — there
  9. rock — a stone
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. present — a gift
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. wound — an injury
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. court — for sport
  18. stand — to bear
  19. rock — music
  20. wound — an injury
  21. court — of a king
  22. present — the time now
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. stand — for spectators

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