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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 116 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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. pit — a hole
  5. rock — music
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. object — a thing
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. object — an aim
  14. board — to get on
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. object — to protest
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. stand — to bear
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. board — a committee
  23. rock — a stone
  24. pit — in a race

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