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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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. pass — a permit
  3. bound — obliged
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. capital — money
  12. bass — low music
  13. capital — a city
  14. bound — tied together
  15. stand — to bear
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. roll — a list
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. bass — the fish
  22. bound — certain
  23. roll — a cake
  24. arm — a part of something

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