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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. staff — employees
  3. mug — to rob
  4. pass — a permit
  5. stand — to bear
  6. mug — a face
  7. ball — a dance
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. press — to push
  11. press — newspapers
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. wound — an injury
  14. ball — a great time
  15. staff — employees
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. mug — a cup
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. staff — a stick
  21. wound — an injury
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. press — a publisher
  24. stand — on your feet

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