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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: pass · deal · mine · racket · hide · track · board · rock

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. mine — for digging
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. track — a song
  9. board — to get on
  10. track — to keep track
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. rock — a stone
  17. rock — music
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. board — a committee
  21. pass — a permit
  22. track — a path
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. deal — to handle

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