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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bear · scale · pass · track · drill · net · rock · lie

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. net — after costs
  4. drill — army training
  5. drill — the tool
  6. net — for catching
  7. net — in sport
  8. drill — a practice
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. track — to keep track
  11. bear — the animal
  12. rock — music
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. rock — a stone
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. track — a path
  17. pass — a permit
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. bear — the animal
  20. scale — in music
  21. scale — size or range
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. lie — to recline
  24. track — a song

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