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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. pit — a hole
  3. mine — for digging
  4. ball — a great time
  5. face — part of the head
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. face — to confront
  9. craft — boats
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. ball — a dance
  14. craft — a skill
  15. stand — to bear
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. face — to point toward
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. pit — in a race
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. craft — a handicraft

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