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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: temple · leaves · can · hand · cabinet · file · court · stand

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. file — a line of people
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. stand — to bear
  7. can — a tin
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. can — a tin
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. file — a document
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. hand — in cards
  16. file — a tool
  17. court — of a king
  18. court — of law
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. can — to be able to
  23. hand — help
  24. court — for sport

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