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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. firm — a company
  3. ground — the earth
  4. band — a music group
  5. bank — for money
  6. track — a song
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. track — to keep track
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. track — a path
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. firm — decided
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. band — a ring
  15. firm — steady
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. ground — a position
  19. bank — of a river
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. ground — crushed
  23. perch — the fish
  24. bank — for money

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