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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: track · firm · stand · ruler · fall · lean · fan · clip

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. clip — a video
  3. track — a song
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. stand — to bear
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. fall — to drop
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. firm — decided
  11. track — to keep track
  12. clip — to cut
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. fall — to drop
  15. firm — a company
  16. fall — the season
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. firm — steady
  19. lean — to bend
  20. clip — for paper
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. track — a path
  23. lean — thin
  24. fan — to cool the air

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