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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: track · stand · ruler · jam · content · sharp · straw · toast

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. track — to keep track
  4. track — a song
  5. sharp — clever
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. content — happy
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. track — a path
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. stand — to bear
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. toast — bread
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. content — the amount
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. jam — a tight spot

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