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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. suit — clothes
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. rock — a stone
  5. current — electric
  6. suit — to fit
  7. pit — a hole
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. stand — to bear
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. current — happening now
  12. branch — a division
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. suit — in cards
  16. pit — in a race
  17. band — a music group
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. rock — music
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. current — of water
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. band — a ring
  24. trunk — of a car

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