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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: saw · cabinet · wake · race · wind · cue · stand · leaves

  1. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. wind — moving air
  3. race — the arms race
  4. race — humankind
  5. saw — the tool
  6. cue — a signal
  7. race — a contest
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cue — a hint
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. stand — to bear
  19. wake — a trail
  20. cue — for pool
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. wind — moving air
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. saw — the tool

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