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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: rule · patient · stand · stick · staff · season · charge · foot

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. season — in sport
  3. rule — government
  4. charge — in control
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. charge — a price
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. charge — electricity
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. staff — employees
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. season — of the year
  20. staff — a stick
  21. foot — a measure
  22. rule — a law
  23. staff — employees
  24. stand — for spectators

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