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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. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  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. straw — dry grass
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. pass — a permit
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. rule — a law
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. stand — to bear
  15. pitch — completely
  16. mark — a trace
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. rule — government
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mark — a grade
  23. stand — for spectators
  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