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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 got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. fine — all right
  4. land — ground
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. land — to come down
  8. land — a country
  9. charge — electricity
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. pop — to visit
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. rush — hurry
  15. fine — high quality
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. charge — in control
  18. stand — to bear
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. pop — soda
  23. pop — music
  24. charge — a price

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