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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: firm · saw · stand · key · racket · hand · bear · hide

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. bear — the animal
  5. firm — a company
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. key — for a lock
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. hand — in cards
  10. bear — the animal
  11. stand — to bear
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. key — the most important part
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. saw — the tool
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. hand — help
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. firm — decided
  21. saw — the tool
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. firm — steady
  24. key — in music

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