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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. content — the amount
  5. sharp — clever
  6. bore — to drill
  7. charge — electricity
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. bat — the animal
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. stem — to come from
  14. bore — to tire
  15. foot — a measure
  16. charge — a price
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. stand — to bear
  22. charge — in control
  23. content — happy
  24. sharp — with an edge

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