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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: lean · jam · rock · track · stem · stick · leaves · stand

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. track — a song
  8. stand — to bear
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. lean — thin
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. rock — music
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. lean — to bend
  18. rock — a stone
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. stem — to come from
  22. track — a path
  23. track — to keep track
  24. stand — for spectators

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