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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: leaves · stand · jam · track · current · wake · lean · chest

  1. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. wake — a trail
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. current — of water
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. lean — thin
  7. track — a path
  8. lean — to bend
  9. track — a song
  10. current — happening now
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. track — to keep track
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. current — electric
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. chest — of your body
  22. chest — of your body
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. leaves — to go away

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