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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: rush · fan · march · stand · snap · hide · leaves · bulb

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. march — music
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rush — hurry
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. march — the month
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. march — the month
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. stand — to bear
  20. bulb — for light
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. snap — to click

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