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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 120 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: stick · suit · mate · current · season · board · fine · firm

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. fine — high quality
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. suit — in cards
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. mate — to breed
  7. suit — to fit
  8. mate — a friend
  9. season — of the year
  10. current — electric
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. suit — clothes
  13. board — a committee
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. firm — decided
  16. firm — a company
  17. board — to get on
  18. season — in sport
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. current — happening now
  21. fine — all right
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. mate — a partner
  24. current — of water

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