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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  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. club — for dancing
  2. drill — a practice
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. current — of water
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. staff — a stick
  9. club — for golf
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. drill — the tool
  12. staff — employees
  13. pass — a permit
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. staff — employees
  16. stand — to bear
  17. current — happening now
  18. club — a group
  19. current — electric
  20. drill — army training
  21. date — the fruit
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. date — on the calendar
  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