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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 116 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: bulb · track · pass · mark · mouse · pop · rest · cabinet

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. rest — a break
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mark — a trace
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pop — soda
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. pop — music
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. track — a song
  15. pop — to visit
  16. track — a path
  17. mark — a grade
  18. rest — what's left
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. bulb — for light
  21. pass — a permit
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. rest — what's left
  24. cabinet — ministers

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