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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 · bank · plane · rule · last · ground · cabinet · lash

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. plane — a tool
  4. last — to go on
  5. last — finally
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. bank — for money
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. ground — crushed
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. stand — to bear
  12. bank — of a river
  13. ground — a position
  14. ground — the earth
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. rule — to rule out
  17. rule — a law
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. last — final
  20. bank — for money
  21. rule — government
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. lash — to lash out

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