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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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. stand — to bear
  6. saw — the tool
  7. ball — a dance
  8. mark — a trace
  9. lean — thin
  10. ball — a great time
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. ground — a position
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. lean — to bend
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mark — a grade
  21. ground — the earth
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. ground — crushed

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