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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. court — for sport
  4. track — to keep track
  5. march — music
  6. face — to confront
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. march — the month
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. court — of law
  14. stand — to bear
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. track — a path
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. track — a song
  21. pass — a permit
  22. face — part of the head
  23. march — the month
  24. court — of a king

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