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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 116 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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. pound — a weight
  4. season — in sport
  5. staff — employees
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. bass — the fish
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. content — the amount
  11. stand — to bear
  12. content — happy
  13. staff — a stick
  14. current — of water
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. bass — low music
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — electric
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. staff — employees
  22. season — of the year
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. pound — for dogs

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