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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: rush · cabinet · plane · bound · squash · foot · stand · hand

  1. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. plane — a tool
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. hand — in cards
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. bound — tied together
  10. rush — hurry
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. foot — a measure
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bound — certain
  17. squash — to crush
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. squash — the sport
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. stand — to bear

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