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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.

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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: club · firm · bound · toast · hide · track · stand · saw

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. club — for golf
  4. track — to keep track
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. saw — the tool
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. bound — certain
  9. track — a path
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. track — a song
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. toast — bread
  14. saw — the tool
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. bound — tied together
  18. club — for dancing
  19. bound — obliged
  20. stand — to bear
  21. club — a group
  22. firm — decided
  23. firm — steady
  24. hide — animal skin

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