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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: stand · can · rest · degree · bound · mug · court · suit

  1. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. bound — tied together
  3. rest — a break
  4. suit — in cards
  5. stand — to bear
  6. rest — what's left
  7. mug — a face
  8. bound — certain
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. can — a tin
  11. bound — obliged
  12. rest — what's left
  13. degree — temperature
  14. can — to be able to
  15. degree — from a university
  16. can — a tin
  17. court — of law
  18. mug — a cup
  19. mug — to rob
  20. degree — an amount
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. suit — to fit
  23. suit — clothes
  24. court — for sport

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