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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: track · spring · net · hide · rock · bowl · bay · bark

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. spring — of water
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. track — a path
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. net — after costs
  12. track — a song
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. net — for catching
  15. spring — the season
  16. rock — a stone
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. rock — music
  19. spring — a coil
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. net — in sport
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. track — to keep track

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