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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. wind — moving air
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bear — the animal
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bear — the animal
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. suit — in cards
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. wind — moving air
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. board — a committee
  18. board — to get on
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. pass — a permit
  21. wind — to turn a key
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. suit — clothes
  24. stand — to bear

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