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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: leaves · firm · current · vault · bark · pass · press · stand

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. current — happening now
  5. press — a publisher
  6. vault — a safe
  7. press — to push
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. bark — to shout
  10. pass — a permit
  11. firm — steady
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. firm — decided
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. stand — to bear
  18. current — electric
  19. current — of water
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. press — newspapers

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