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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 can't ________________ this cold.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. board — a committee
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. firm — a company
  7. suit — to fit
  8. snap — to click
  9. suit — clothes
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. board — to get on
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bore — to tire
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. firm — steady
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. firm — decided
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. bore — to drill
  24. suit — in cards

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