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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. board — to get on
  3. scale — in music
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. toast — bread
  8. prune — to trim
  9. stand — to bear
  10. club — a group
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. prune — to trim
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. rush — hurry
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. club — for golf
  20. scale — size or range
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. board — a committee
  24. club — for dancing

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