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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. club — for golf
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. season — in sport
  5. season — of the year
  6. swing — music
  7. mug — a cup
  8. stand — to bear
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. mug — a face
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. net — for catching
  13. mug — to rob
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. swing — to play on
  17. net — after costs
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. wake — a trail
  20. net — in sport
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. club — a group
  23. swing — in golf
  24. club — for dancing

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