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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 116 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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. net — for catching
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. net — after costs
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. face — part of the head
  9. stand — to bear
  10. prune — to trim
  11. net — in sport
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. lean — thin
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. march — music
  16. march — the month
  17. face — to confront
  18. bulb — for light
  19. march — the month
  20. perch — the fish
  21. lean — to bend
  22. bulb — for light
  23. face — to point toward
  24. prune — to trim

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