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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: stand · ball · fine · lie · rash · ruler · can · cabinet

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. can — to be able to
  4. ball — a dance
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. lie — to recline
  8. stand — to bear
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. can — a tin
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. fine — all right
  14. fine — high quality
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ball — a great time
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. rash — a series
  21. can — a tin
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. ruler — a monarch

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