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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. mug — a cup
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. rock — music
  5. charge — a price
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. charge — electricity
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. cue — for pool
  14. foot — a measure
  15. charge — in control
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. mug — a face
  19. cue — a signal
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. stand — to bear
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. mug — to rob
  24. rock — a stone

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