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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: coach · bank · track · patient · stand · rock · jam · firm

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. firm — a company
  7. track — a song
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. bank — of a river
  11. rock — a stone
  12. track — to keep track
  13. stand — to bear
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. firm — decided
  17. firm — steady
  18. bank — for money
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rock — music
  21. track — a path
  22. bank — for money
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. jam — in traffic

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