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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 was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. pop — soda
  3. pound — a weight
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. board — a committee
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. degree — temperature
  12. stand — to bear
  13. degree — from a university
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pop — music
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. board — to get on
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. degree — an amount
  24. ball — a dance

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