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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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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: capital · stand · squash · lean · track · bowl · pop · rash

  1. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — a big letter
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. track — to keep track
  5. squash — to crush
  6. lean — thin
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. pop — music
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. rash — a series
  13. lean — to bend
  14. track — a path
  15. capital — money
  16. squash — the sport
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. capital — a city
  19. pop — soda
  20. track — a song
  21. pop — to visit
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. rash — on the skin
  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