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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 120 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: dip · bound · stand · rest · bay · nail · track · deal

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. bound — certain
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. dip — to sink
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. track — a song
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. deal — to handle
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. rest — what's left
  15. rest — a break
  16. track — to keep track
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. bound — obliged
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. rest — what's left
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. track — a path

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