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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: racket · stand · fan · pass · sharp · lean · bound · safe

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. bound — tied together
  3. lean — thin
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. pass — a permit
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. sharp — clever
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. bound — obliged
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. bound — certain
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. lean — to bend
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. stand — to bear

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