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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
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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: spell · pass · pitcher · fine · leaves · track · bear · mug

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. spell — a short time
  3. track — to keep track
  4. mug — a face
  5. spell — letters
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. fine — high quality
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. spell — magic
  11. pass — a permit
  12. track — a path
  13. mug — a cup
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. track — a song
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bear — the animal
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. mug — to rob
  24. leaves — lets stay

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