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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. firm — a company
  3. wake — a trail
  4. land — a country
  5. mark — a trace
  6. lean — to bend
  7. track — to keep track
  8. mark — a grade
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. firm — decided
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. track — a path
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. lean — thin
  17. track — a song
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. land — ground
  21. land — to come down
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. lean — to rest against

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