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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.

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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: leaves · cabinet · charge · sharp · stock · net · hand · stand

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. charge — electricity
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. charge — a price
  6. stock — goods
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. hand — in cards
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. sharp — clever
  11. hand — help
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. stand — to bear
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. net — for catching
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. net — in sport
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. net — after costs
  23. stock — shares
  24. cabinet — ministers

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