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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.

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: chair · pass · stand · bulb · suit · band · mouse · ball

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. stand — to bear
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. suit — to fit
  11. suit — in cards
  12. pass — a permit
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. ball — a great time
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. bulb — for light
  18. band — a ring
  19. chair — a leader
  20. suit — clothes
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. ball — a dance

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