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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: content · rash · fan · wound · key · stand · ground · suit

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. ground — the earth
  3. wound — an injury
  4. rash — a series
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. ground — crushed
  9. rash — hasty
  10. key — the most important part
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. wound — an injury
  13. stand — to bear
  14. ground — a position
  15. key — for a lock
  16. suit — to fit
  17. suit — clothes
  18. content — the amount
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. suit — in cards
  23. content — happy
  24. key — in music

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