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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. stand — to bear
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. current — electric
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. bound — tied together
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. current — happening now
  17. current — of water
  18. bound — certain
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bound — obliged
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rush — hurry
  24. arm — part of the body

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