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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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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: lie · perch · ground · rush · wound · fine · stand · bank

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. wound — an injury
  3. stand — to bear
  4. ground — crushed
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bank — of a river
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. wound — an injury
  9. rush — hurry
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. perch — the fish
  14. bank — for money
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bank — for money
  18. lie — to recline
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. fine — high quality
  22. ground — a position
  23. fine — all right
  24. perch — for a bird

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