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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bass — low music
  8. fork — in a road
  9. wound — an injury
  10. wound — an injury
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. scale — in music
  13. scale — size or range
  14. stem — to come from
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. stand — to bear
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. stand — on your feet

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