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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
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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: land · mouse · stand · wave · can · bay · cap · track

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. track — to keep track
  3. cap — of ice
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. track — a song
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. track — a path
  10. cap — a hat
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. can — to be able to
  14. land — to come down
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. land — ground
  17. stand — to bear
  18. cap — a lid
  19. can — a tin
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. land — a country
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. can — a tin

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