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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.

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: fine · firm · plane · stand · stem · field · fall · object

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. fall — the season
  4. field — a subject
  5. firm — a company
  6. stem — to come from
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. object — a thing
  9. firm — decided
  10. plane — a tool
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. object — to protest
  13. field — farmland
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. fall — to drop
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. fine — all right
  18. stand — to bear
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. fall — to drop
  21. fine — high quality
  22. firm — steady
  23. object — an aim
  24. field — for sport

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