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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: squash · mug · march · track · safe · bark · board · wake

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. mug — a face
  4. track — a song
  5. bark — to shout
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. track — to keep track
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. board — a committee
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. squash — to crush
  14. march — music
  15. squash — the sport
  16. track — a path
  17. mug — to rob
  18. march — the month
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. march — the month
  22. board — to get on
  23. wake — a trail
  24. mug — a cup

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