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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 120 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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. can — a tin
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. court — for sport
  5. can — to be able to
  6. mug — a cup
  7. court — of law
  8. club — for dancing
  9. mug — to rob
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. club — for golf
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. mug — a face
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. stand — to bear
  21. club — a group
  22. court — of a king
  23. can — a tin
  24. leaves — to go away

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