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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  12. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. staff — employees
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. clip — to cut
  12. clip — a video
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. pass — a permit
  16. rush — hurry
  17. can — a tin
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. stand — to bear
  22. toast — bread
  23. staff — a stick
  24. clip — for paper

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