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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. charge — in control
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. file — a line of people
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. charge — electricity
  10. file — a document
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. charge — a price
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. ground — crushed
  16. can — to be able to
  17. stand — to bear
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. vault — a safe
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. file — a tool
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. ground — a position
  24. ground — the earth

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