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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. mug — to rob
  6. net — in sport
  7. scale — size or range
  8. stand — to bear
  9. wake — a trail
  10. stem — to come from
  11. mug — a cup
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. mug — a face
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. net — for catching
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. scale — in music
  20. net — after costs
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. fine — high quality
  24. fine — all right

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