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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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. staff — a stick
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. perch — the fish
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. wax — to grow
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. pit — in a race
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. track — a song
  11. pit — a hole
  12. staff — employees
  13. track — a path
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bulb — for light
  21. track — to keep track
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. staff — employees
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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