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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. rock — music
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. march — the month
  6. deal — to handle
  7. current — electric
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. drill — a practice
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. current — happening now
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. drill — the tool
  15. stem — to come from
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. rock — a stone
  18. current — of water
  19. march — music
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. march — the month
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. drill — army training
  24. stand — to bear

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