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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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. rash — hasty
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. firm — steady
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. rash — a series
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. stand — to bear
  11. pass — a permit
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. dip — to sink
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. firm — decided
  19. bulb — for light
  20. firm — a company
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bulb — for light
  24. leaves — of a tree

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