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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 120 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: pass · stand · court · bark · pitcher · cabinet · nail · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. pass — a permit
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. rock — music
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. court — of a king
  9. court — for sport
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. court — of law
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. stand — to bear
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. bark — to shout
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. pitcher — a jug

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