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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The water is too ________________.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. cold — not warm
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. current — of water
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. stand — to bear
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. pass — a permit
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. current — electric
  16. cold — the Cold War
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. current — happening now
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. cold — an illness
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. fork — to eat with

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