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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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: season · key · mate · leaves · wave · track · field · racket

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. field — a subject
  3. key — in music
  4. field — for sport
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. field — farmland
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. key — the most important part
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. mate — to breed
  15. track — to keep track
  16. track — a song
  17. season — in sport
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. key — for a lock
  20. mate — a partner
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. season — of the year
  23. mate — a friend
  24. season — to add flavour

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