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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: leaves · lie · stand · key · firm · pitcher · clip · object

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. key — in music
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. object — to protest
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. clip — a video
  9. key — the most important part
  10. object — an aim
  11. object — a thing
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. firm — decided
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. lie — to recline
  19. clip — for paper
  20. firm — steady
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. clip — to cut
  23. stand — to bear
  24. firm — a company

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