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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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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: cue · fork · leaves · band · stand · ruler · plane · bay

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. fork — in a road
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. band — a music group
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. plane — a tool
  12. cue — a hint
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. cue — a signal
  17. band — a ring
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. stand — to bear
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. cue — for pool
  24. plane — in geometry

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