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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. There's no middle ________________.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. present — there
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. present — a gift
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. stand — to bear
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. ground — crushed
  11. ground — the earth
  12. suit — in cards
  13. squash — to crush
  14. cue — a hint
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cue — a signal
  17. key — for a lock
  18. key — the most important part
  19. suit — clothes
  20. cue — for pool
  21. squash — the sport
  22. suit — to fit
  23. key — in music
  24. present — the time now

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