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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 116 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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. pop — to visit
  9. pop — soda
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. ball — a great time
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. staff — employees
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. staff — a stick
  16. object — to protest
  17. stand — to bear
  18. ball — a dance
  19. object — an aim
  20. object — a thing
  21. bore — to tire
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pop — music
  24. bore — to drill

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