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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 116 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. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  13. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. season — in sport
  4. suit — clothes
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. firm — a company
  7. branch — a division
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. spring — a coil
  10. season — of the year
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. race — the arms race
  13. race — a contest
  14. spring — the season
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. firm — steady
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. suit — to fit
  19. lie — to recline
  20. firm — decided
  21. suit — in cards
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. spring — of water
  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