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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 120 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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. staff — a stick
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. ball — a dance
  11. pop — soda
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. ball — a great time
  14. staff — employees
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pass — a permit
  18. stand — to bear
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. pop — music
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. lean — to bend
  23. lean — thin
  24. staff — employees

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