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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: wound · stand · suit · pass · chip · bay · arm · fork

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. fork — in a road
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. wound — an injury
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. suit — clothes
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. stand — to bear
  13. suit — in cards
  14. wound — an injury
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. chip — to eat
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. suit — to fit
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. chip — for betting

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