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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. drill — a practice
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. pass — a permit
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. toast — bread
  7. stand — to bear
  8. bark — to shout
  9. fine — high quality
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. fine — all right
  14. drill — the tool
  15. drill — army training
  16. bulb — for light
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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