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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
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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: can · stand · leaves · nail · bass · fan · bear · cell

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bear — the animal
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. can — to be able to
  6. cell — in biology
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. stand — to bear
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. bear — the animal
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. bass — the fish
  16. can — a tin
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. bass — low music
  19. can — a tin
  20. cell — a phone
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. nail — on a finger

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