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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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. cue — a signal
  5. sharp — clever
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. rock — a stone
  8. cue — a hint
  9. rock — music
  10. cue — for pool
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. wound — an injury
  13. stand — to bear
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. pass — a permit
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. content — the amount
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. content — happy
  23. wound — an injury
  24. trunk — 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