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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: can · bay · suit · sharp · stand · shower · stem · track

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. shower — rain
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. sharp — clever
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. suit — clothes
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. suit — to fit
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. track — a path
  13. can — a tin
  14. track — a song
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. suit — in cards
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. can — to be able to
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. can — a tin
  21. shower — to wash
  22. stem — to come from
  23. track — to keep track
  24. stem — of a plant

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