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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. current — of water
  3. mark — a grade
  4. cap — a hat
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. spell — magic
  8. hand — in cards
  9. cap — a lid
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. board — to get on
  12. current — electric
  13. current — happening now
  14. hand — help
  15. mark — a trace
  16. spell — letters
  17. spell — a short time
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. board — a committee
  20. cap — of ice
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. stand — to bear

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