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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: track · lie · stand · firm · bat · ball · suit · branch

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. track — to keep track
  3. firm — steady
  4. ball — a great time
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. ball — a dance
  8. branch — a division
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. suit — to fit
  12. bat — in an idiom
  13. track — a path
  14. track — a song
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. bat — for baseball
  17. suit — clothes
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bat — the animal
  20. firm — decided
  21. lie — to recline
  22. stand — to bear
  23. firm — a company
  24. suit — in cards

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