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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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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: drill · firm · lie · stand · vault · foot · mark · scale

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. firm — decided
  5. foot — a measure
  6. scale — size or range
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. drill — the tool
  10. mark — a trace
  11. mark — a grade
  12. stand — to bear
  13. firm — steady
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. scale — in music
  16. vault — a safe
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. lie — to recline
  20. drill — a practice
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. drill — army training
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. stand — on your feet

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