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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 120 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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bear — the animal
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. club — for golf
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. cue — a signal
  8. club — a group
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. stand — to bear
  12. scale — in music
  13. cue — for pool
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. scale — size or range
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. bear — the animal
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. cue — a hint
  21. club — for dancing
  22. mark — a trace
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. hide — to keep secret

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