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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: staff · mouse · suit · stand · court · prune · fine · ruler

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. fine — all right
  3. prune — to trim
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. prune — to trim
  7. suit — clothes
  8. court — of a king
  9. staff — employees
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. suit — to fit
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. court — for sport
  14. staff — employees
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. staff — a stick
  21. court — of law
  22. stand — to bear
  23. fine — high quality
  24. suit — in cards

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