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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 train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. track — a song
  4. branch — a division
  5. ball — a great time
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. ball — a dance
  9. firm — steady
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. firm — decided
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. firm — a company
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. pass — a permit
  22. track — a path
  23. track — to keep track
  24. stand — to bear

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