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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: sharp · leaves · foot · suit · capital · bore · stand · chair

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. capital — money
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. chair — a professorship
  6. sharp — clever
  7. capital — a city
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. bore — to drill
  13. suit — in cards
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. capital — a big letter
  17. chair — a leader
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. suit — to fit
  20. stand — to bear
  21. bore — to tire
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. foot — a measure
  24. suit — clothes

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