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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 · racket · stick · bore · lean · net · fine · cap

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. net — for catching
  3. net — after costs
  4. cap — a lid
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. fine — all right
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. net — in sport
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bore — to tire
  11. lean — to bend
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. cap — of ice
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. fine — high quality
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. stand — to bear
  21. bore — to drill
  22. lean — thin
  23. cap — a hat
  24. racket — a loud noise

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