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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. pitch — completely
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. cap — a hat
  6. firm — a company
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. stand — to bear
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. lie — to recline
  11. cap — of ice
  12. cap — a lid
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. firm — steady
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. file — a document
  18. season — of the year
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. firm — decided
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. season — in sport
  23. file — a tool
  24. lie — an untruth

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