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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 124 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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: object · stand · mate · cap · toast · roll · cue · ground

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. cap — of ice
  3. roll — a list
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. object — a thing
  6. ground — the earth
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. mate — to breed
  9. roll — a cake
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. object — to protest
  12. cap — a hat
  13. stand — to bear
  14. mate — a partner
  15. toast — bread
  16. mate — a friend
  17. ground — crushed
  18. cue — a signal
  19. ground — a position
  20. cue — a hint
  21. object — an aim
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. cap — a lid
  24. cue — for pool

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