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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: pass · current · track · bound · patient · bay · ground · face

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. current — of water
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. bound — certain
  7. track — a path
  8. track — to keep track
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. face — to point toward
  11. face — to confront
  12. pass — a permit
  13. current — happening now
  14. bound — tied together
  15. current — electric
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. ground — the earth
  18. ground — crushed
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. face — part of the head
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. track — a song
  23. bound — obliged
  24. patient — a sick person

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