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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 120 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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. land — to come down
  3. present — the time now
  4. ground — the earth
  5. land — ground
  6. current — happening now
  7. suit — to fit
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. current — of water
  10. land — a country
  11. ground — crushed
  12. current — electric
  13. stand — to bear
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. suit — clothes
  16. pit — a hole
  17. ground — a position
  18. suit — in cards
  19. present — a gift
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. pit — in a race
  22. lie — to recline
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. present — there

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