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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mate — to breed
  3. rash — a series
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. stand — to bear
  6. ground — the earth
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ground — crushed
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. can — to be able to
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. mate — a partner
  15. ground — a position
  16. date — the fruit
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. club — for dancing
  20. club — for golf
  21. rash — hasty
  22. can — a tin
  23. club — a group
  24. mate — a friend

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