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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: bear · bass · ruler · suit · fine · stand · sharp · spring

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. suit — in cards
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. sharp — clever
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. suit — to fit
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. spring — the season
  10. spring — a coil
  11. bear — the animal
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. fine — all right
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. suit — clothes
  17. bass — low music
  18. stand — to bear
  19. bear — the animal
  20. fine — high quality
  21. spring — of water
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. sharp — exactly

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