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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: stand · file · fork · racket · rush · trunk · suit · pass

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. rush — hurry
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. suit — to fit
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. pass — a permit
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. file — a line of people
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. file — a tool
  16. suit — in cards
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. stand — to bear
  19. fork — in a road
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. file — a document
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. suit — clothes

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