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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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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: firm · stand · racket · saw · court · snap · foot · bank

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. foot — a measure
  5. firm — steady
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. bank — for money
  8. bank — of a river
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bank — for money
  11. court — for sport
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. firm — a company
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. saw — the tool
  16. stand — to bear
  17. court — of a king
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. snap — to click
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. court — of law
  23. firm — decided
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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