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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. roll — a cake
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. firm — a company
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. deal — to handle
  10. roll — a list
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. stand — to bear
  13. firm — decided
  14. current — of water
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. plane — a tool
  17. current — electric
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. current — happening now
  22. firm — steady
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. stand — for spectators

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