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

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. track — a song
  3. bank — for money
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. stand — to bear
  6. rush — hurry
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. plane — a tool
  9. track — to keep track
  10. rash — hasty
  11. root — the cause
  12. rash — a series
  13. bank — of a river
  14. track — a path
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. root — of a plant
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bank — for money
  22. root — of a word
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. rash — on the skin

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