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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. track — to keep track
  4. date — the fruit
  5. bass — low music
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. track — a song
  9. stand — to bear
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. bass — the fish
  23. mine — for digging
  24. safe — a strongbox

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