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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 don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. wake — a trail
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. tube — a container
  5. suit — to fit
  6. track — a path
  7. ball — a dance
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. suit — clothes
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. rock — music
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. tube — the underground
  15. rock — a stone
  16. kick — in football
  17. track — a song
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. suit — in cards
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. ball — a great time
  23. stand — to bear
  24. track — to keep track

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