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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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. key — in music
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. mark — a grade
  5. drill — a practice
  6. board — to get on
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. charge — a price
  9. field — for sport
  10. fine — all right
  11. drill — the tool
  12. board — a committee
  13. stand — to bear
  14. charge — electricity
  15. key — for a lock
  16. fine — high quality
  17. key — the most important part
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. field — farmland
  20. mark — a trace
  21. drill — army training
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. charge — in control
  24. field — a subject

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