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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. There's no middle ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. stand — to bear
  7. ground — crushed
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. ground — the earth
  10. dip — to sink
  11. rush — hurry
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. board — to get on
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. board — a committee
  18. mark — a grade
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. bear — the animal
  21. mark — a trace
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. bear — the animal

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