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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: sharp · board · suit · object · can · file · stand · spring

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. can — to be able to
  3. sharp — clever
  4. file — a tool
  5. object — an aim
  6. suit — clothes
  7. spring — a coil
  8. board — to get on
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. file — a line of people
  11. can — a tin
  12. spring — the season
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. object — to protest
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. suit — in cards
  17. can — a tin
  18. suit — to fit
  19. stand — to bear
  20. object — a thing
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. spring — of water
  23. file — a document
  24. board — a committee

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