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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. fall — to drop
  3. file — a line of people
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. spell — a short time
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. file — a document
  10. fall — the season
  11. pitch — completely
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. toast — bread
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. stand — to bear
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. fall — to drop
  22. file — a tool
  23. spell — letters
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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