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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. prune — to trim
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. ground — a position
  5. ground — crushed
  6. dip — to sink
  7. present — there
  8. present — a gift
  9. ground — the earth
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. stand — to bear
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. drill — a practice
  18. drill — the tool
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. drill — army training
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. present — the time now
  24. dip — a sauce

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