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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. key — in music
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. toast — bread
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. season — of the year
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. key — the most important part
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. field — farmland
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. field — a subject
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. field — for sport
  18. key — for a lock
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. season — in sport
  21. stand — to bear
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. toast — the most admired

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