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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: key · track · present · dip · pass · spell · game · pound

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. key — in music
  4. track — a path
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. present — there
  7. track — to keep track
  8. spell — letters
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. spell — magic
  11. dip — to sink
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. game — wild animals
  14. present — the time now
  15. track — a song
  16. pound — a weight
  17. pass — a permit
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. game — a match
  20. key — the most important part
  21. present — a gift
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. spell — a short time
  24. key — for a lock

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