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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 116 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 second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. track — to keep track
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. track — a song
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. lie — to recline
  10. bank — for money
  11. stand — to bear
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. bank — for money
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. wax — to grow
  16. bank — of a river
  17. mark — a trace
  18. capital — a big letter
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. capital — a city
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. track — a path
  23. mark — a grade
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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