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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: track · stand · pit · charge · toast · perch

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. pit — a hole
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. track — a path
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. stand — to bear
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. track — a song
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. charge — in control
  11. charge — a price
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. track — to keep track
  15. toast — bread
  16. perch — the fish
  17. pit — in a race
  18. charge — electricity

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