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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. prune — to trim
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. season — in sport
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. mark — a trace
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. deal — to handle
  17. season — of the year
  18. wake — a trail
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. mark — a grade
  22. prune — to trim
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. stand — to bear

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