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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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Word bank
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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: stand · cue · file · fall · leaves · game · toast · jam

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  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. cue — a signal
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. toast — bread
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. file — a document
  7. cue — for pool
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. game — wild animals
  10. stand — to bear
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. file — a tool
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. file — a line of people
  17. fall — the season
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. cue — a hint
  21. fall — to drop
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. game — a match
  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