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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. stand — to bear
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. face — to confront
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. face — part of the head
  7. stock — shares
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. mug — a cup
  10. lean — to bend
  11. pass — a permit
  12. mug — to rob
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. mug — a face
  15. ball — a dance
  16. lean — thin
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. face — to point toward
  19. stock — goods
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. ball — a great time
  24. stand — on your feet

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