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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: mug · stand · track · bay · perch · bowl · chip · mouse

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. mug — a cup
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. mug — to rob
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. chip — to eat
  10. chip — for betting
  11. track — a path
  12. stand — to bear
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. perch — the fish
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. mug — a face
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. track — a song
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. mouse — for a computer

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