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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. rest — a break
  4. shower — to wash
  5. press — newspapers
  6. swing — music
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. press — a publisher
  9. swing — to play on
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. press — to push
  13. rest — what's left
  14. shower — rain
  15. pit — a hole
  16. rash — a series
  17. rash — hasty
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. rest — what's left
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. swing — in golf
  22. stand — to bear
  23. wax — to grow
  24. rash — on the skin

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