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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. suit — clothes
  3. rule — government
  4. can — a tin
  5. suit — in cards
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. row — to paddle
  8. can — a tin
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. stand — to bear
  11. last — to go on
  12. last — final
  13. suit — to fit
  14. can — to be able to
  15. rule — to rule out
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. mug — a cup
  18. row — a line
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. mug — to rob
  22. rule — a law
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. mug — a face

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