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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. stand — to bear
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. cue — a signal
  6. row — to paddle
  7. foot — a measure
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. stock — shares
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. cue — a hint
  12. stock — goods
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. board — to get on
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. board — a committee
  18. row — a line
  19. wake — a trail
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. cue — for pool
  24. foot — part of the body

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