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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 116 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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. track — to keep track
  3. court — of law
  4. court — for sport
  5. rock — music
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. fine — all right
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rash — hasty
  11. press — newspapers
  12. fine — high quality
  13. court — of a king
  14. press — a publisher
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. track — a path
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rash — a series
  21. stand — to bear
  22. track — a song
  23. press — to push
  24. fan — to cool the air

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