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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: track · lean · key · toast · field · mouse · dip · leaves

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. key — the most important part
  3. track — a song
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. field — farmland
  6. dip — to sink
  7. key — in music
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. lean — thin
  11. key — for a lock
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. lean — to bend
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. field — for sport
  16. toast — bread
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. field — a subject
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. track — to keep track
  24. track — a path

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