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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: pass · rash · pit · file · bowl · cue · track · ground

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. track — to keep track
  3. cue — a hint
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. ground — the earth
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. cue — for pool
  9. pass — a permit
  10. track — a path
  11. file — a document
  12. ground — a position
  13. file — a line of people
  14. rash — hasty
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. track — a song
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. file — a tool
  19. ground — crushed
  20. cue — a signal
  21. pit — in a race
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. pit — a hole

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