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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. perch — the fish
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. march — the month
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. staff — a stick
  8. suit — clothes
  9. board — a committee
  10. hand — in cards
  11. stand — to bear
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. staff — employees
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. staff — employees
  17. hand — help
  18. pitch — completely
  19. board — to get on
  20. suit — in cards
  21. march — music
  22. suit — to fit
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. stand — for spectators

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