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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: stand · track · mate · wave · cell · can · jam · row

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. track — a path
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. stand — to bear
  7. mate — to breed
  8. can — a tin
  9. track — a song
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. cell — a phone
  14. mate — a friend
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. track — to keep track
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. mate — a partner
  20. cell — in biology
  21. row — a line
  22. can — to be able to
  23. row — to paddle
  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