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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. key — the most important part
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. track — to keep track
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. pitch — completely
  7. bound — certain
  8. bound — obliged
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bark — to shout
  11. track — a song
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. key — for a lock
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. stand — to bear
  19. key — in music
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. sharp — clever
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. safe — out of danger

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