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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: stock · rash · rest · prune · hide · leaves · cap · stand

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. cap — a hat
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. stand — to bear
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. rash — hasty
  10. stock — goods
  11. prune — to trim
  12. rest — what's left
  13. prune — to trim
  14. stock — shares
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. rest — a break
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. rash — a series
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. rest — what's left
  21. cap — of ice
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. cap — a lid

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