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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. board — to get on
  5. track — a path
  6. bear — the animal
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bear — the animal
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. track — a song
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. date — the fruit
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. board — a committee
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. rush — hurry
  20. rash — a series
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rash — hasty
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rush — a thrill

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