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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 116 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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. fall — to drop
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. ball — a dance
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rock — music
  8. ball — a great time
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rush — hurry
  11. track — a song
  12. mug — to rob
  13. fall — to drop
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. suit — in cards
  17. suit — to fit
  18. mug — a cup
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. mug — a face
  21. track — a path
  22. suit — clothes
  23. fall — the season
  24. track — to keep track

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