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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The water is too ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. saw — the tool
  3. cold — the Cold War
  4. current — of water
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. suit — to fit
  7. pass — a permit
  8. suit — in cards
  9. cold — an illness
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. suit — clothes
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. saw — the tool
  14. current — electric
  15. current — happening now
  16. rock — a stone
  17. rock — music
  18. can — to be able to
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. can — a tin
  21. cold — not warm
  22. can — a tin
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. stand — to bear

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