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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  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. pass — a permit
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. march — the month
  5. root — of a plant
  6. pop — soda
  7. bat — for baseball
  8. pop — music
  9. root — the cause
  10. march — the month
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. root — of a word
  13. bat — the animal
  14. row — to paddle
  15. fine — high quality
  16. row — a line
  17. march — music
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. stand — to bear
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. pop — to visit
  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