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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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. march — the month
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mine — for digging
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. mark — a trace
  8. file — a line of people
  9. file — a document
  10. band — a music group
  11. march — the month
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. march — music
  15. band — a ring
  16. stand — to bear
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. charge — a price
  19. charge — in control
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. file — a tool
  23. charge — electricity
  24. can — to be able to

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