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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · sharp · key · arm · lean · cabinet · rock · pound

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. rock — a stone
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. rock — music
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. lean — to bend
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. sharp — clever
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. lean — thin
  18. pound — a weight
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. stand — to bear
  21. key — in music
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. key — the most important part
  24. cabinet — ministers

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