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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: rush · arm · track · stand · cabinet · ruler · key · suit

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. track — a song
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. suit — to fit
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rush — hurry
  8. key — in music
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. track — to keep track
  11. key — for a lock
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. track — a path
  17. stand — to bear
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. key — the most important part
  23. suit — in cards
  24. suit — clothes

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