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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: pass · ruler · stem · can · stand · ground · straw · capital

  1. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. can — to be able to
  3. can — a tin
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. ground — crushed
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. pass — a permit
  8. ground — the earth
  9. stem — to come from
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. capital — a big letter
  12. stand — to bear
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. capital — a city
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. ground — a position
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. can — a tin
  24. stem — a stem cell

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