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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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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: stand · net · coach · firm · bulb · last · row · foot

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. row — to paddle
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. firm — steady
  6. bulb — for light
  7. firm — decided
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. last — finally
  10. last — final
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. last — to go on
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. net — after costs
  16. firm — a company
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. net — for catching
  19. foot — a measure
  20. bulb — for light
  21. stand — to bear
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. net — in sport
  24. row — a line

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