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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 116 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: swing · stand · firm · net · key · bear · bass · leaves

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. net — after costs
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. swing — to play on
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. key — the most important part
  8. stand — to bear
  9. bass — low music
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. net — for catching
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. key — for a lock
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bear — the animal
  17. firm — a company
  18. key — in music
  19. swing — music
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. swing — in golf
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. firm — steady
  24. firm — decided

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