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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 116 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: stand · fine · face · rest · lean · sharp · stock · pass

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. lean — to bend
  3. face — to point toward
  4. lean — thin
  5. face — to confront
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. fine — high quality
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. rest — a break
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. stock — goods
  13. fine — all right
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. stand — to bear
  16. sharp — clever
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. rest — what's left
  20. face — part of the head
  21. rest — what's left
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. pass — a permit
  24. lean — to rest against

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