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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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. track — a song
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. perch — the fish
  8. season — of the year
  9. board — to get on
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. track — to keep track
  16. season — in sport
  17. stand — to bear
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. snap — to click
  23. board — a committee
  24. track — a path

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