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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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. firm — decided
  3. court — of law
  4. tube — the underground
  5. firm — steady
  6. game — wild animals
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. court — of a king
  11. tube — a container
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. wake — a trail
  17. court — for sport
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. stand — to bear
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. firm — a company
  22. game — a match
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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