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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. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. fall — the season
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. board — to get on
  5. fall — to drop
  6. mate — to breed
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pit — a hole
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. fall — to drop
  11. kid — to tease
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. track — a song
  14. mate — a partner
  15. kid — child
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. board — a committee
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. track — a path
  23. track — to keep track
  24. mate — a friend

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