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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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. roll — a cake
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. toast — bread
  6. rush — hurry
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. board — to get on
  10. press — newspapers
  11. press — a publisher
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. stand — to bear
  16. roll — a list
  17. board — a committee
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. press — to push
  24. arm — a part of something

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