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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 train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. key — for a lock
  4. fall — to drop
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. ball — a dance
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fall — the season
  13. can — to be able to
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. pit — a hole
  16. fall — to drop
  17. stand — to bear
  18. ball — a great time
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. pit — in a race
  21. key — in music
  22. key — the most important part
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — a tin

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