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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 can't ________________ this cold.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. present — a gift
  4. rash — a series
  5. present — the time now
  6. dip — to sink
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. mate — a partner
  9. mate — to breed
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. rash — hasty
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. suit — to fit
  16. present — there
  17. suit — in cards
  18. rush — hurry
  19. mate — a friend
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. suit — clothes

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