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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: stand · pit · roll · mine · cabinet · toast · track · can

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  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 — for spectators
  2. pit — in a race
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. track — to keep track
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. stand — to bear
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. pit — a hole
  13. roll — a cake
  14. roll — a list
  15. track — a path
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. can — a tin
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. toast — bread
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. can — to be able to
  22. mine — for digging
  23. track — a song
  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