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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. fall — the season
  3. chip — to eat
  4. fall — to drop
  5. rest — what's left
  6. ground — crushed
  7. can — a tin
  8. season — of the year
  9. rest — a break
  10. chip — for betting
  11. stand — to bear
  12. can — a tin
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. can — to be able to
  15. ground — a position
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. season — in sport
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. suit — to fit
  20. ground — the earth
  21. suit — in cards
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. fall — to drop
  24. rest — what's left

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