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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Beijing is the ________________ of China.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. march — music
  3. capital — money
  4. drill — army training
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. can — a tin
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. can — to be able to
  9. march — the month
  10. march — the month
  11. bear — the animal
  12. capital — a big letter
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. drill — a practice
  16. lean — to bend
  17. lean — thin
  18. drill — the tool
  19. can — a tin
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. bear — the animal
  22. stand — to bear
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. capital — a city

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