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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. row — a line
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. can — a tin
  5. scale — in music
  6. tube — a container
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. mug — a cup
  9. row — to paddle
  10. degree — an amount
  11. degree — from a university
  12. can — to be able to
  13. mug — a face
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. mug — to rob
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. degree — temperature
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. scale — size or range
  23. tube — the underground
  24. stand — to bear

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