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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. net — for catching
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. net — in sport
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. land — a country
  7. board — to get on
  8. file — a tool
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. object — an aim
  15. object — a thing
  16. land — to come down
  17. sharp — clever
  18. net — after costs
  19. board — a committee
  20. stand — to bear
  21. file — a line of people
  22. land — ground
  23. object — to protest
  24. file — a document

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