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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. perch — the fish
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. lean — thin
  6. lean — to bend
  7. spring — a coil
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. rock — music
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. rock — a stone
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. cue — for pool
  14. spring — the season
  15. rash — a series
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. cue — a hint
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. rash — hasty
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. stand — to bear
  22. cue — a signal
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. spring — of water

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