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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. suit — clothes
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. lean — thin
  7. lean — to bend
  8. stand — to bear
  9. suit — in cards
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. pitch — completely
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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