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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: tube · bass · safe · track · field · bound · stand · ball

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. bass — low music
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bound — tied together
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. track — a path
  8. field — a subject
  9. bound — certain
  10. ball — a great time
  11. tube — the underground
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. track — a song
  14. field — for sport
  15. field — farmland
  16. bass — the fish
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. track — to keep track
  19. ball — a dance
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. tube — a container
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. stand — to bear

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