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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. kick — in football
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. game — a match
  10. wake — a trail
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. season — of the year
  14. shower — to wash
  15. season — in sport
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. shower — rain
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. game — wild animals
  22. pass — a permit
  23. stand — to bear
  24. kick — with a leg

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