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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 ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. rash — a series
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. firm — a company
  5. perch — the fish
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. stand — to bear
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. firm — steady
  12. firm — decided
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. ground — crushed
  16. ground — a position
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rash — hasty
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. safe — out of danger

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