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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 116 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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. The ball is in your ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. rock — a stone
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. court — of law
  7. stand — to bear
  8. fine — high quality
  9. rule — a law
  10. fine — all right
  11. court — of a king
  12. sharp — clever
  13. rock — music
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. court — for sport
  16. spell — letters
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — for light
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. spell — magic
  24. rule — government

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