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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
468
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: trunk · object · bowl · wake · leaves · jam · stand · fine

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. fine — high quality
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. object — to protest
  11. fine — all right
  12. object — an aim
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. object — a thing
  16. wake — a trail
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. stand — to bear
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. leaves — to go away

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