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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. track — to keep track
  3. mate — a partner
  4. mug — to rob
  5. track — a path
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. bound — certain
  8. cap — of ice
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. track — a song
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. bound — obliged
  13. cap — a lid
  14. pass — a permit
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. bound — tied together
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. toast — bread
  19. mate — a friend
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. mate — to breed
  23. mug — a cup
  24. cap — a hat

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