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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.

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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: current · stand · object · foot · rash · lean · cabinet · fine

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. fine — all right
  3. lean — to bend
  4. current — of water
  5. stand — to bear
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. rash — hasty
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. lean — thin
  12. rash — a series
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. object — to protest
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. object — an aim
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. current — electric
  20. object — a thing
  21. fine — high quality
  22. foot — a measure
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. current — happening now

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