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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. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. clip — for paper
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. press — newspapers
  7. track — a song
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. press — to push
  10. clip — to cut
  11. track — to keep track
  12. stand — to bear
  13. rush — hurry
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. clip — a video
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. track — a path
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. press — a publisher
  24. cabinet — ministers

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