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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: stem · can · stand · toast · wake · scale · racket · press

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. can — to be able to
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. can — a tin
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. stem — to come from
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. wake — a trail
  11. toast — bread
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. scale — in music
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. press — to push
  17. press — newspapers
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. can — a tin
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. press — a publisher
  23. scale — size or range
  24. stand — to bear

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