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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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. net — after costs
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. stand — to bear
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. cue — for pool
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. date — the fruit
  13. net — in sport
  14. chip — for betting
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cue — a signal
  17. net — for catching
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. cue — a hint
  20. pit — in a race
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. pit — a hole
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. chip — to eat

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