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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 had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. chair — a professorship
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. band — a music group
  8. drill — army training
  9. stand — to bear
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. suit — clothes
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. suit — in cards
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. suit — to fit
  18. drill — the tool
  19. band — a ring
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. chair — a leader

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