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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stick · net · stand · spring · mark · track · charge · snap

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. net — for catching
  3. track — to keep track
  4. mark — a trace
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. spring — of water
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. track — a path
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. net — after costs
  13. charge — a price
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. charge — in control
  16. track — a song
  17. charge — electricity
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. net — in sport
  20. snap — to click
  21. spring — the season
  22. mark — a grade
  23. stand — for spectators
  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