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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 seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. club — a group
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. rash — hasty
  5. club — for dancing
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. rash — a series
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. club — for golf
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. wake — a trail
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. rush — hurry
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. stand — to bear
  23. mine — for digging
  24. stand — on your feet

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