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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
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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: content · suit · ruler · firm · staff · press · racket · ground

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. firm — steady
  3. firm — decided
  4. staff — employees
  5. content — happy
  6. suit — to fit
  7. staff — employees
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. ground — a position
  10. firm — a company
  11. content — the amount
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. suit — clothes
  14. press — newspapers
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. staff — a stick
  19. ground — the earth
  20. press — a publisher
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. suit — in cards
  23. press — to push
  24. ground — crushed

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