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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 120 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: rush · straw · season · can · ruler · patient · pound · stand

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. stand — to bear
  4. straw — dry grass
  5. season — in sport
  6. can — a tin
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. pound — a weight
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. can — to be able to
  15. season — of the year
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. can — a tin
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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