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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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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: mark · stand · game · fine · net · wax · suit · stick

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. stand — to bear
  4. mark — a trace
  5. game — wild animals
  6. net — after costs
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. wax — to grow
  9. net — in sport
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. net — for catching
  12. suit — in cards
  13. suit — clothes
  14. mark — a grade
  15. suit — to fit
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. game — a match
  20. fine — high quality
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. fine — all right
  24. mark — to pay attention

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