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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: board · roll · nail · degree · track · pitch · pass · snap

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  24. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. roll — a list
  3. roll — a cake
  4. board — to get on
  5. pitch — completely
  6. snap — to click
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. degree — temperature
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. pass — a permit
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. track — a path
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. track — to keep track
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. board — a committee
  23. degree — an amount
  24. degree — from a university

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