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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. suit — clothes
  4. pit — a hole
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. march — music
  7. ground — the earth
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. ball — a great time
  15. stand — to bear
  16. pit — in a race
  17. march — the month
  18. ball — a dance
  19. march — the month
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. suit — in cards
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. ground — crushed
  24. ground — a position

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