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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: bay · stand · rush · snap · can · cue · kid · track

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. stand — to bear
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. cue — for pool
  6. can — a tin
  7. kid — to tease
  8. cue — a hint
  9. track — a song
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. rush — hurry
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. track — to keep track
  14. kid — child
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. track — a path
  18. can — to be able to
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. can — a tin
  22. cue — a signal
  23. snap — to click
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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