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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. board — a committee
  6. stand — to bear
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. craft — boats
  14. craft — a skill
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. lean — thin
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. deal — to handle
  19. lean — to bend
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. board — to get on
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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