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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 smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. season — in sport
  3. field — for sport
  4. field — farmland
  5. deal — to handle
  6. row — to paddle
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. bulb — for light
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. row — a line
  12. stand — to bear
  13. field — a subject
  14. bulb — for light
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. board — a committee
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. board — to get on
  20. can — a tin
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — to be able to
  24. season — of the year

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