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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. pass — a permit
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. rash — hasty
  6. pop — soda
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. field — farmland
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. field — for sport
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. stand — to bear
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. field — a subject
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. pop — music
  21. fine — high quality
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pop — to visit
  24. fine — all right

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