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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 120 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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — music
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. scale — in music
  7. stand — to bear
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. bound — certain
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. stock — shares
  12. rock — a stone
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. scale — size or range
  15. season — of the year
  16. bound — obliged
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. board — a committee
  22. stock — goods
  23. bound — tied together
  24. board — to get on

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