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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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. foot — a measure
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. charge — a price
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. branch — a division
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. stand — to bear
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. charge — in control
  14. charge — electricity
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. capital — a city
  18. mine — for digging
  19. board — to get on
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. capital — money
  23. capital — a big letter
  24. board — a committee

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