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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 120 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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. can — a tin
  4. bark — to shout
  5. bark — of a tree
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. track — to keep track
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. can — a tin
  11. track — a song
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. track — a path
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. mine — for digging
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. snap — to click
  24. mine — an explosive

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