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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. track — a song
  3. track — a path
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. season — of the year
  6. board — a committee
  7. suit — in cards
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. net — after costs
  10. board — to get on
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. track — to keep track
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. net — for catching
  17. wake — a trail
  18. pass — a permit
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. net — in sport
  22. season — in sport
  23. suit — clothes
  24. season — to add flavour

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