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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. drill — a practice
  4. bulb — for light
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. stand — to bear
  7. bulb — for light
  8. drill — army training
  9. lean — thin
  10. drill — the tool
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. lean — to bend
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. chair — a leader
  24. bowl — to roll

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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