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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. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. track — to keep track
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. stand — to bear
  8. track — a path
  9. hand — in cards
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — for light
  15. rash — hasty
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. hand — help
  20. rash — a series
  21. track — a song
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. stand — on your feet

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