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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 120 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 · drill · land · bay · arm · wake · key · mark

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. drill — the tool
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. mark — a trace
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. land — to come down
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. pass — a permit
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. key — in music
  15. mark — a grade
  16. wake — a trail
  17. drill — army training
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. drill — a practice
  20. key — for a lock
  21. land — a country
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. land — ground
  24. pass — to succeed

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