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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 · track · rock · lash · bound · jam · hide · press

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. press — to push
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. stand — to bear
  8. press — a publisher
  9. rock — a stone
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. rock — music
  12. track — a song
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. bound — obliged
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. bound — certain
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. bound — tied together
  22. track — to keep track
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. press — newspapers

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