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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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468
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 · last · spell · pitcher · stick · rush · safe · rule

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. track — a song
  3. track — to keep track
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. spell — magic
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. spell — a short time
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. last — finally
  13. rule — to rule out
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. last — final
  16. last — to go on
  17. track — a path
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. spell — letters
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rule — government
  24. rule — a law

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