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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: racket · foot · chair · branch · mate · straw · track · stand

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. track — to keep track
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. track — a song
  5. mate — a partner
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. branch — a division
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. mate — to breed
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. chair — a leader
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. foot — a measure
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. stand — to bear
  23. track — a path
  24. mate — a friend

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