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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 120 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: pitcher · charge · leaves · stem · nail · game · hide · stand

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. game — a match
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. stand — to bear
  7. game — wild animals
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. stem — to come from
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. charge — electricity
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. charge — a price
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. charge — in control
  24. stem — a stem cell

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