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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. stand — to bear
  4. staff — employees
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. game — wild animals
  9. game — a match
  10. staff — employees
  11. current — of water
  12. bass — low music
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. current — happening now
  15. bass — the fish
  16. pop — soda
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. pop — music
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. current — electric
  23. pop — to visit
  24. staff — a stick

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