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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: key · stand · toast · net · track · saw · pound · rash

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. rash — a series
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. saw — the tool
  5. net — after costs
  6. key — in music
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. track — to keep track
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. stand — to bear
  11. toast — bread
  12. pound — a weight
  13. track — a path
  14. key — for a lock
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. saw — the tool
  17. track — a song
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. net — in sport
  20. key — the most important part
  21. net — for catching
  22. rash — hasty
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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