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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 can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. last — to go on
  3. can — to be able to
  4. staff — employees
  5. current — electric
  6. march — the month
  7. current — happening now
  8. stand — to bear
  9. march — music
  10. current — of water
  11. cue — a hint
  12. staff — employees
  13. track — a path
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. last — final
  16. march — the month
  17. track — to keep track
  18. track — a song
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. can — a tin
  21. staff — a stick
  22. last — finally
  23. can — a tin
  24. cue — a signal

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