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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. field — a subject
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. charge — in control
  5. key — in music
  6. bear — the animal
  7. rest — what's left
  8. track — to keep track
  9. bear — the animal
  10. charge — electricity
  11. field — farmland
  12. rest — a break
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. branch — a division
  15. pass — a permit
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. track — a path
  18. key — the most important part
  19. key — for a lock
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. field — for sport
  23. track — a song
  24. charge — a price

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