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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. cap — a lid
  3. branch — a division
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. current — electric
  6. object — an aim
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. current — happening now
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. cap — of ice
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. current — of water
  16. cap — a hat
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. object — a thing
  20. stand — to bear
  21. object — to protest
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. bowl — a football final

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