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

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. board — to get on
  3. track — to keep track
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. rest — a break
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pound — a weight
  9. ground — crushed
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. snap — to click
  12. ground — a position
  13. key — for a lock
  14. track — a song
  15. key — the most important part
  16. rest — what's left
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. ground — the earth
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. board — a committee
  22. key — in music
  23. track — a path
  24. rest — what's left

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