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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 train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. court — of law
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. drill — the tool
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. pitch — completely
  7. bear — the animal
  8. drill — a practice
  9. bore — to drill
  10. stand — to bear
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. bear — the animal
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. court — of a king
  16. face — to point toward
  17. bore — to tire
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. face — part of the head
  20. drill — army training
  21. court — for sport
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. face — to confront

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