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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: rush · drill · stand · firm · ball · leaves · can · deal

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. firm — a company
  3. can — to be able to
  4. firm — decided
  5. ball — a dance
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. drill — army training
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. firm — steady
  12. stand — to bear
  13. can — a tin
  14. rush — hurry
  15. ball — a great time
  16. deal — to handle
  17. drill — a practice
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. can — a tin

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