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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: stand · pitcher · bass · safe · track · mine · lie · rock

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lie — to recline
  5. track — a path
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rock — music
  10. track — to keep track
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mine — for digging
  13. rock — a stone
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. bass — low music
  19. stand — to bear
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. bass — the fish
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. safe — out of danger

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