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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. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. season — of the year
  5. stand — to bear
  6. bear — the animal
  7. rock — music
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. chair — a leader
  10. foot — a measure
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. rock — a stone
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. season — in sport
  24. stand — for spectators

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