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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: saw · bark · wake · key · bulb · board · track · suit

  1. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. suit — clothes
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. key — the most important part
  6. suit — to fit
  7. key — for a lock
  8. track — a path
  9. key — in music
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. suit — in cards
  13. wake — a trail
  14. track — a song
  15. bark — to shout
  16. bulb — for light
  17. saw — the tool
  18. track — to keep track
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. board — a committee
  24. board — to get on

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