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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 · suit · nail · row · rock · object · pitcher · bark

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. suit — to fit
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. track — a song
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. rock — a stone
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. object — a thing
  10. suit — in cards
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. track — a path
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. rock — music
  15. track — to keep track
  16. object — to protest
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. suit — clothes
  19. object — an aim
  20. row — to paddle
  21. row — a line
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bark — to shout
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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