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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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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: bulb · key · pass · stick · prune · track · deal · toast

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. bulb — for light
  5. prune — to trim
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. key — the most important part
  8. track — a path
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. deal — to handle
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. toast — bread
  13. key — in music
  14. pass — a permit
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. key — for a lock
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. track — a song
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. prune — to trim
  24. toast — the most admired

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