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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: pop · stand · season · land · bore · cue · bear · mouse

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. season — of the year
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. land — ground
  8. bore — to tire
  9. pop — to visit
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. stand — to bear
  12. season — in sport
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. cue — a signal
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. bore — to drill
  17. land — to come down
  18. cue — for pool
  19. bear — the animal
  20. land — a country
  21. pop — soda
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. cue — a hint

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