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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: bark · ground · safe · file · bay · toast · stand · stem

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. file — a line of people
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. toast — bread
  8. ground — the earth
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. stand — to bear
  11. ground — crushed
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. file — a tool
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. stem — to come from
  20. bark — to shout
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. file — a document
  24. ground — a position

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