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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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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 · stick · temple · stand · chair · pop · toast · ball

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. toast — bread
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. pop — music
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. ball — a dance
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. ball — a great time
  19. chair — a leader
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. pop — soda
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. stand — to bear
  24. pop — to visit

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