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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 120 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 a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. face — to confront
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. stand — to bear
  8. face — part of the head
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. face — to point toward
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. spring — the season
  14. prune — to trim
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. spring — of water
  18. pass — a permit
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. prune — to trim
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rock — a stone
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rock — music

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