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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: pass · mug · track · race · pitch · bound · tube · branch

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. track — a path
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bound — tied together
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bound — obliged
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. branch — a division
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. tube — a container
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. race — humankind
  14. tube — the underground
  15. race — the arms race
  16. track — a song
  17. pass — a permit
  18. mug — a face
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. bound — certain
  22. mug — to rob
  23. race — a contest
  24. pitch — completely

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