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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 124 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: mark · bound · charge · track · spell · tube · lie · pass

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. track — a path
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. lie — to recline
  6. bound — certain
  7. tube — a container
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. bound — obliged
  10. mark — a grade
  11. track — to keep track
  12. track — a song
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bound — tied together
  15. charge — a price
  16. charge — in control
  17. spell — letters
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. charge — electricity
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. spell — a short time
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. tube — the underground
  24. pass — a permit

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