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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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Word bank
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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: track · stick · drill · saw · rock · mark · pitch · mate

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — the tool
  4. drill — a practice
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. mate — a partner
  9. mate — a friend
  10. mate — to breed
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. track — to keep track
  13. pitch — completely
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. mark — a grade
  16. rock — a stone
  17. rock — music
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. drill — the tool
  20. track — a song
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. mark — a trace
  23. track — a path
  24. drill — army training

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