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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · lie · nail · jam · charge · pitch · bear · spring

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. charge — electricity
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. spring — of water
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. bear — the animal
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. bear — the animal
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. spring — a coil
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. pitch — completely
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. stand — to bear
  19. charge — a price
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. lie — to recline
  23. spring — the season
  24. charge — in control

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