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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. stand — to bear
  3. can — a tin
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. track — a song
  7. key — in music
  8. staff — a stick
  9. track — to keep track
  10. season — of the year
  11. key — the most important part
  12. board — a committee
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. staff — employees
  15. key — for a lock
  16. can — a tin
  17. lie — to recline
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. can — to be able to
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. season — in sport
  22. board — to get on
  23. track — a path
  24. lie — an untruth

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