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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: field · pop · wind · stand · wax · fine · foot · cabinet

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. wind — moving air
  6. stand — to bear
  7. field — for sport
  8. wind — moving air
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. fine — all right
  13. wax — to grow
  14. pop — soda
  15. fine — high quality
  16. pop — music
  17. foot — a measure
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. field — a subject
  21. pop — to visit
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. field — farmland

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