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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 train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. stand — to bear
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. bank — for money
  6. season — in sport
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. perch — the fish
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. bank — of a river
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. race — humankind
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. season — of the year
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. race — a contest
  20. race — the arms race
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. bank — for money
  24. safe — a strongbox

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