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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: stand · stick · mouse · ball · chair · pass · firm · toast

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. ball — a dance
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. chair — a leader
  9. firm — decided
  10. stand — to bear
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. firm — a company
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. firm — steady
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. pass — a permit
  19. toast — bread
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. ball — a great time
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. chair — to sit on
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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