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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. march — the month
  4. rest — what's left
  5. current — happening now
  6. march — music
  7. rest — a break
  8. current — electric
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. content — the amount
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. content — happy
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. rest — what's left
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pass — a permit
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. stand — to bear
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. current — of water
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. march — the month

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