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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: ground · pass · ball · rock · squash · track · bound · staff

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. ball — a dance
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. track — a song
  5. pass — a permit
  6. ground — a position
  7. ground — crushed
  8. rock — a stone
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. staff — employees
  11. squash — the sport
  12. track — to keep track
  13. bound — tied together
  14. rock — music
  15. ground — the earth
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bound — certain
  18. bound — obliged
  19. track — a path
  20. ball — a great time
  21. staff — a stick
  22. squash — to crush
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. staff — employees

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