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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: pass · stand · deal · track · bore · pit · key · spell

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. key — for a lock
  3. track — to keep track
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. key — the most important part
  7. spell — a short time
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. track — a song
  10. track — a path
  11. bore — to tire
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. key — in music
  14. spell — magic
  15. pit — in a race
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. pass — a permit
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. stand — to bear
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. bore — to drill
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. spell — letters
  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