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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. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. roll — a list
  4. stand — to bear
  5. roll — a cake
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. rush — hurry
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. mug — a cup
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. mug — to rob
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. fall — to drop
  15. date — the fruit
  16. fall — to drop
  17. mug — a face
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. nail — on a finger

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