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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: track · race · key · plane · bay · mate · row · ball

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. track — a song
  3. key — in music
  4. race — the arms race
  5. plane — a tool
  6. mate — to breed
  7. race — humankind
  8. ball — a great time
  9. track — to keep track
  10. race — a contest
  11. mate — a friend
  12. row — a line
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. track — a path
  15. row — to paddle
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. ball — a dance
  19. key — for a lock
  20. mate — a partner
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. key — the most important part
  24. row — a quarrel

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