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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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. fall — the season
  4. can — a tin
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. fall — to drop
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. mate — to breed
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. can — to be able to
  13. dip — to sink
  14. mate — a partner
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. can — a tin
  17. rule — government
  18. rule — a law
  19. mate — a friend
  20. stand — to bear
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. fall — to drop

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