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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 120 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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. rock — music
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. staff — employees
  6. season — in sport
  7. stand — to bear
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. mate — a partner
  12. staff — employees
  13. mate — to breed
  14. rock — a stone
  15. press — a publisher
  16. track — a path
  17. season — of the year
  18. press — newspapers
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. press — to push
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. staff — a stick
  23. track — a song
  24. track — to keep track

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