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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 116 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: can · lean · rock · stand · fine · rash · rush · stem

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. fine — high quality
  3. can — a tin
  4. fine — all right
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. rash — a series
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rash — hasty
  9. rock — music
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. lean — to bend
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. can — a tin
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. stem — to come from
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. rock — a stone
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. lean — thin
  24. stand — to bear

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