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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: season · board · leaves · pop · firm · stand · safe · cabinet

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. board — to get on
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. pop — music
  8. board — a committee
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. season — of the year
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. stand — to bear
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. pop — to visit
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pop — soda
  21. season — in sport
  22. firm — decided
  23. firm — a company
  24. cabinet — ministers

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