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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: suit · band · mug · stand · current · stem · arm · toast

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. suit — clothes
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. mug — a cup
  6. suit — in cards
  7. mug — a face
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. mug — to rob
  12. current — happening now
  13. stem — to come from
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. band — a music group
  20. stand — to bear
  21. band — a ring
  22. current — of water
  23. current — electric
  24. suit — to fit

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