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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. firm — steady
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. plane — a tool
  11. stand — to bear
  12. firm — a company
  13. firm — decided
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. can — a tin
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. mark — a grade
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. band — a ring
  20. band — a music group
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. can — to be able to
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. mark — a trace

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