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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 train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. season — in sport
  7. mate — to breed
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. lean — to bend
  11. sharp — clever
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. snap — to click
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. lean — thin
  16. mate — a friend
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. season — of the year
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. mate — a partner
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. stand — to bear
  24. lean — to rest against

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