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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. charge — a price
  7. can — a tin
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. hand — help
  12. hand — in cards
  13. can — to be able to
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. can — a tin
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. lie — to recline
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. charge — in control
  23. stand — to bear
  24. charge — electricity

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