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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: can · track · saw · object · rule · pass · band · field

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. track — a path
  4. object — a thing
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. can — a tin
  7. field — for sport
  8. band — a music group
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. band — a ring
  11. pass — a permit
  12. saw — the tool
  13. object — an aim
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rule — a law
  16. track — a song
  17. can — to be able to
  18. field — farmland
  19. track — to keep track
  20. rule — government
  21. field — a subject
  22. can — a tin
  23. saw — the tool
  24. object — to protest

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