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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: mug · press · bound · can · spell · spring · mark · track

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. track — to keep track
  3. press — to push
  4. spell — letters
  5. spring — the season
  6. spring — a coil
  7. bound — certain
  8. can — a tin
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — to rob
  11. press — a publisher
  12. mug — a cup
  13. spring — of water
  14. can — a tin
  15. track — a path
  16. spell — magic
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bound — tied together
  20. press — newspapers
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. mark — a trace
  23. track — a song
  24. spell — a short time

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