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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: stand · fine · row · pass · file · stock · cap · safe

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. fine — high quality
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. file — a tool
  5. stock — goods
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. row — a line
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. row — to paddle
  12. cap — a lid
  13. stand — to bear
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. file — a document
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stock — shares
  19. file — a line of people
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. cap — of ice
  23. fine — all right
  24. cap — a hat

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