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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. fine — all right
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. sharp — clever
  8. present — there
  9. chest — of your body
  10. foot — a measure
  11. rock — a stone
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. fine — high quality
  14. perch — the fish
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. chest — a box
  17. present — a gift
  18. stand — to bear
  19. rock — music
  20. chest — of your body
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. present — the time now

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