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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 · leaves · jam · rule · mug · bound · track · lie

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  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. leaves — lets stay
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. track — a song
  4. mug — a face
  5. bound — obliged
  6. lie — to recline
  7. stand — to bear
  8. rule — to rule out
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. track — a path
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. mug — a cup
  13. bound — tied together
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. track — to keep track
  16. rule — government
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bound — certain
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. mug — to rob
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. rule — a law
  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