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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. firm — steady
  4. rash — hasty
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. season — in sport
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. season — of the year
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. firm — a company
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. lie — to recline
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. rash — a series
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. firm — decided
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. branch — a division
  24. rash — on the skin

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