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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 116 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. mug — a face
  3. mug — a cup
  4. track — a path
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. bass — low music
  7. track — to keep track
  8. wake — a trail
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. saw — the tool
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. saw — the tool
  13. mug — to rob
  14. deal — to handle
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. bass — the fish
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. prune — to trim
  19. track — a song
  20. pass — a permit
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. prune — to trim
  24. deal — a big deal

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