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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. bear — the animal
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. file — a tool
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. toast — bread
  10. bear — the animal
  11. mine — for digging
  12. stand — to bear
  13. spell — magic
  14. spell — letters
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. pass — a permit
  18. file — a document
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. file — a line of people
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pitch — completely
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. stand — on your feet

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