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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. fine — high quality
  3. tube — the underground
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rock — music
  7. tube — a container
  8. bank — for money
  9. bank — for money
  10. rock — a stone
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. saw — the tool
  13. march — the month
  14. march — the month
  15. march — music
  16. fine — all right
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. stand — to bear
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. bank — of a river

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