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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. fine — all right
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. fine — high quality
  7. stand — to bear
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. shower — to wash
  11. season — in sport
  12. track — a path
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. season — of the year
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. track — to keep track
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. board — to get on
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. track — a song
  23. shower — rain
  24. board — a committee

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