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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. season — in sport
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. season — of the year
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. pound — a weight
  10. wound — an injury
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. ball — a great time
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. stand — to bear
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. wound — an injury
  24. ball — a dance

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