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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: capital · rest · stick · leaves · stand · staff · fine · ball

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. ball — a dance
  3. staff — employees
  4. capital — a big letter
  5. ball — a great time
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. rest — a break
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. staff — a stick
  12. staff — employees
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. rest — what's left
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. fine — high quality
  18. capital — a city
  19. stand — to bear
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. rest — what's left
  23. fine — all right
  24. capital — money

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