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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: sharp · rash · stand · firm · straw · bowl · chip · fine

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. firm — decided
  3. rash — a series
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. chip — for betting
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. sharp — clever
  12. fine — high quality
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. firm — steady
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. chip — to eat
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. rash — hasty
  19. stand — to bear
  20. fine — all right
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. rash — on the skin

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