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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. court — of law
  3. bark — to shout
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. court — of a king
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bass — low music
  8. bass — the fish
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. track — a song
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. track — a path
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pass — a permit
  20. net — after costs
  21. net — for catching
  22. track — to keep track
  23. court — for sport
  24. net — in sport

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